Zubi and MikeL: midfield maestros
Our Basque midfielders have a long history together and are hoping to make magical memoreis in North London.
Zubi and MikeL: midfield maestros
Our Basque midfielders have a long history together and are hoping to make magical memoreis in North London.
Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Merino’s careers have been closely linked from the time they first formed part of the impressive Real Sociedad midfield, more than six years ago. The two spent five years together at the Basque club, winning the Copa del Rey in 2019/20, and helping the team finish in the top six of La Liga every year they played together.
They finished fourth in 2023, to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in nine years. What’s more, they both made their debuts with the Spain national team while with Sociedad, and celebrated winning the Nations League together in 2023, and the European Championships the following season. Now they are reunited in north London, and last month they spoke about their journey to Arsenal. We caught up with the duo on their partnership, life in London and all things Arsenal.
Martin, you’ve not been here long. How’s it going? Are you happy here?
MZ: Yes, I’ve not been here long, but it doesn’t feel that way because of how settled and comfortable I’m feeling and the friends I’ve made in such little time.
And you’ve been friends for a long time, right? Do you remember your first encounter with Martin, Mikel?
MM: Yes, I remember it perfectly. We were talking about it just the other day, and, well, it’s funny how time goes by. But he had been promoted to the first team and he was always smiling, even while playing, with a smile on his face, and it was rather striking. But soon after barely training with us he made his debut. And the other day we mentioned that time when I was on the pitch and a sub was made. I turned around, saw him, and had to turn around again. “Who is this guy? I barely know him, I haven’t trained with him.” And, well, now look, two years later, we’re having a good laugh about it!
And is he still that footballer who’s always smiling?
MM: Yes. Now more off the pitch that on it!
MZ: I think my sour mood has rubbed off on him!
What do you remember from the first time meeting Mikel in training?
MZ: Well, imagine the first time you go up to the first team. You’re always a bit nervous, very alert, seeing what’s going on. For him, I was probably just another kid, but for me it was a special day.
Did you speak to Mikel before signing for Arsenal?
MZ: Yes, just before signing. Obviously getting the opinion of a player who is already in the squad is always helpful but I had pretty much made my decision already. It’s true that his opinion helped clarify everything a bit more for me.
MM: I wouldn’t say I acted as an ’agent’ because I didn’t want to interfere in his decision. It’s something very personal and very important in a career – the moments when you decide to change clubs, and especially when it’s a club as important to him as Real Sociedad. Of course, on a personal and selfish level, if he’s with us, it’s much better. And now I’m lucky to be with him both on and off the pitch, but at the time, he was the one who had to make the decision, and that’s what he did.
"HE [MARTIN] HAD BEEN PROMOTED TO
THE FIRST TEAM AND HE WAS ALWAYS
SMILING, EVEN WHILE PLAYING..."
What does Zubi bring to the team?
MM: He honestly brings a lot. They don’t make signings here for no reason and whenever someone comes in, it’s to add something to the team. He’s adapted very quickly. I don’t think he’s really needed help from anyone. His English is coming along little by little, and on the pitch, he’s doing very well.
And scoring goals! What do you remember about your brace against Nottingham Forest?
MZ: I wonder what they think at Real Sociedad because I had so many chances like that there but never scored from them, then the first one here goes in! But, yes I was happy to score so quickly as that gives you a confidence boost. As Mikel said, I think I’ve adapted well.
Mikel is used to scoring goals now, how are you enjoying a more forward role in the team?
MM: The important thing is that it goes into the net and yes, I like it. I’m already used to playing there. Last year it was strange at first, when I had to adapt as a forward. But now, with the experience and all the matches I’ve played there, I think I’m already used to it and I know what I have to do in every moment.
Do you prefer playing up front or in midfield?
MM: It depends on which centre backs you’re up against! If they’re really physical, maybe it’s better in midfield! But I’m happy and comfortable in both positions. If I have one good quality, it’s that I understand what I need to do in different positions. I adapt to what the coach asks of me, to what the team needs and I feel comfortable.
You scored a hat-trick for Spain earlier this season…
MZ: And almost another one in Europe!
MM: I don’t know, sometimes you just go on a run. Many times you get a load of chances and miss them all. Other times, three balls come your way and you score all three. Right now, I’ve been lucky in that sometimes I just flick it on and it goes in. So, you just have to keep this streak going because you never know when it will end.
How pleased are you with Arsenal’s start to the season?
MZ: Nothing is set in stone, it’s still very early but there’s no doubt that this form helps a lot with each player’s confidence. We’re aware that we have to extend this momentum as much as possible.
Do you think we have the best defence in Europe at the moment?
MZ: Probably. But it’s not just about the individual names in defence, it’s also the team and collective effort. It’s something we work on a lot. Not just set-pieces, like many people might think, but everything else. There’s a lot of work behind it and you can see the results from the whole team, how people give their all to block a shot or intercept a pass. And the defence is what wins you trophies, so hopefully, we can keep it up.
How would you describe the mentality in this group?
MZ: I would use the word ’resilience’. Ultimately, they’ve been close to achieving the goal for many years, and I think that instead of pressure, that’s become a motivation for everything that’s coming. Honestly I see the team more eager than ever. The coach, who’s been here for many years, more eager than ever. That’s what I’ve witnessed.
MM: What Martin says is also very important. After so long, people haven’t given up. Another group, another squad might have thought, “Well, our chance has slipped away and we’ve been close to winning and didn’t do it.” But with this team you see that the ones who have been here since day one are hungrier than ever. And the new players come in with that same hunger to contribute and to adapt to the group right away. Hopefully, this is the year, but there’s still so much time left and it’s so hard to win titles and trophies in a league like the Premier League, and especially the Champions League. What won’t be missing is hunger and hard work.
Mikel Arteta comes from the same region in the Basque Country. What is he like as a leader?
MZ: I think he wants to take charge of every detail in the club. Whether it’s on the pitch, off the pitch, in the stands, in the stadium, what the team conveys. He’s very detail-oriented, and it really shows in what we do.
"VERY HARD-WORKING PEOPLE [PEOPLE FROM THE BASQUE COUNTRY], VERY HUMBLE, WHO DON’T LOOK FOR EXCUSES AND ALWAYS DEMAND MORE FROM THEMSELVES"
And you went to Antiguoko like Mikel, Xabi Alonso, Andoni Iraola and many others. What is that club like?
MZ: Honestly, I only have happy memories of Antiguoko. Ultimately when it’s your childhood and when you play just for fun everything takes on a different dimension in terms of enjoyment. It’s a competitive club. From a very young age they send us to very good tournaments with very good players playing against top-division teams. So in that sense you compete from a very young age.
What makes the Basque Country so special?
MM: I’ve been asked that a thousand times! I don’t know, there must be some secret, but I really don’t know what it is. Sometimes I say it’s the personality of the people there. Very hard-working people, very humble, who don’t look for excuses and always demand more from themselves. That creates a really good atmosphere, both at team level and individually. You just have to look at all the coaches in La Liga and the Premier League who come from that region. Honestly, some of the happiest moments of my life were spent there. I feel like I’m part of San Sebastian, of Donostia, of Gipuzkoa. That’s another characteristic they have – they make everyone feel welcome and integrate them into the culture and the family they build.
How does it work here? Do you use the English or Spanish schedule? People eat late in Spain!
MM: I’ve already got used to things here.
MZ: Yeah, little by little, I’m doing things. earlier. I think the weather makes you do it as well. It gets dark earlier, so there’s not a lot to do.
MM: Yeah, it’s different – you wake up and go to bed earlier. I like it because it helps you stick to a footballer’s routine. Taking care of yourself, sleeping the hours you need, being at home to recover. You don’t really feel like going out to do other things. It’s a different culture, and each has its pros and cons.
What do you most miss about Spain?
MZ: My dog still lives in Spain. The thing is that I live alone here and he doesn’t deserve that kind of life. He deserves better, he wants the sun! He’s happy with my dad. Let’s see what happens in the future, but right now, I’m settling in.
Would you say you’ve been able to adapt to life and everything here?
MZ: Yes. I think a footballer’s life is similar in all aspects. Ultimately, it’s matches, training, rest, travel. There’s very little free time. But it’s good.
Mikel, you were born in Pamplona and went to Osasuna, what was that experience like at the club? Similar to Antiguoko?
MM: Yeah, it’s similar. The people up north – Navarrese and Basque people – we come from very similar cultures. Osasuna is a very family-oriented club as well. From the start, they instil the idea of competing, the "rasmia", they call it there – a word we use a lot to mean "grit". It’s the drive to overcome obstacles, which is what they teach us from the start. And for me being born and raised there is amazing. I have all my friends there, my family. Everyone is an Osasuna fan, the club that helped me grow. Every time I go back it’s great to be with all
of them.
What are your main memories from real sociedad?
MM: There are many, right?
MZ: Yeah, I spent 14 years there. Ultimately, I think you’re left with the friendships and the day-to-day moments. Beyond everything you might have contributed in terms of achievements, I think it’s the people who stay with you.
MM: Also, the daily crossword puzzles every morning!
MZ: Real Sociedad doesn’t just help you grow as a player, but also as a person, in terms of studies. They care about your teachers, your family, your environment. It’s a club that has helped me perfectly, and I’m very proud of what they’ve built.
MM: Yes, they help you with everything and you notice this immediately when you get to the first team and young players come up to train with you. They have very well-developed tactical and technical foundations. That’s worked on from the youth levels, from all ages. I’ve travelled and been at different teams, different clubs and academies and you see how young players come up, and there they really focus on that. And it shows – it’s amazing. Then, when you play with them, they may make mistakes due to inexperience or not being used to the pace, but they have the fundamentals.
What was Xabi Alonso Like as a Coach?
MZ: It was strange because it took me a while to get used to the idea that my idol was now my coach. He also came from Antiguoko, we played in the same position, so that explains it. But, yes, it was a bit hard to go from that admiration to having him as my coach. But honestly I feel very lucky because you can already see all the potential he has.
who was your idol, mikel?
MM: Maybe it was Rafa Nadal. I wanted to play tennis. In my garage at home the whole wall was covered in ball marks – my dad still reminds me of it!
You two won the Copa del Rey together in 2021, in the Basque derby against Athletic Club. What do you remember from that day?
MM: It was great. Honestly, it was like a film because Covid had just hit, so we had qualified for the final but we couldn’t play it until a year later. So there was a lot of anticipation around it, a whole year talking about the only all-Basque final in history. Just imagine a whole year thinking about it. “If we win, great, and if we lose, what then? How will it go down in history?” It was a shame not to be able to play it with fans, because football is for the fans, and not having ours there was tough. But the memory of that victory is magical.
MZ: Yeah, for me Covid actually brought something positive because, otherwise I would’ve watched it from home, since I was in the reserves. Because it got delayed I got to play the final.
MM: Winning with a club like Real Sociedad, which had gone so long without doing it, in that way against our arch-rival is something that will go down in history. It’s always something special, especially because of the group we had. We were homegrown players, a family, everyone very involved.
How did it compare with winning the Euros with Spain in 2024?
MM: You can’t compare them.
MZ: Yes, it’s different.
MM: But the Euros… when I was a kid I said “One day I’m going to win the Euros and the World Cup, no question!” I would say it without thinking! Later you realise how difficult that is, and wow, it’s great being there.
Did Declan Rice say anything about it when
you arrived?
MZ: He made a joke, but we’re in the
minority here!
what's it like to play for your country?
MM: It’s amazing. When you’re a kid and you start getting called up to youth teams – the Navarra team, your school team, being among the best you always dream of one day being among the best in an entire country. There are only a few chosen players, and having your name there, being together with the best from Real Madrid, the best from Barca, the best from Valencia, it’s something you’re proud of. It’s incredible. You look around and realise that you’re with the best of the best. It’s amazing to be with people you’ve played with since you were little, with friends we have there because we have an exceptional group. And then if you manage to achieve things like winning the Euros and the Nations League, winning so many matches, it’s a dream.
MZ: Yes, especially because at that Euros there were five of us from Real Sociedad, which was historic. We helped each other a lot. Ultimately, it’s a month and a half away from home. That Euros has a special value because of how everything went. Each one of us had our moment on the pitch, and everything went perfectly.
MM: The celebrations were also crazy. Going on the bus through the streets of Madrid, seeing everyone out on the streets celebrating like crazy no matter which club they support, but all united for the same cause. What an incredible memory.
What would it mean to win a world cup this summer?
MZ: Well, it’s right up there on the list. It has to be up there. The biggest tournament a player can play in is the World Cup and if you can actually win it, that must be incredible.
MM: We’ve had a good feeling for a long time. I think we have a very good generation of players, with a coach who understands us perfectly and who always finds the right key for what the team needs to shine. Just like in the Premier League or the Champions League it’s so difficult to win such a tournament that many times it comes down to the details. Look at the Euros. I think we were the best team, and even then you win one match in the last minute, another one you come back almost by chance. So, we’re without doubt hungry and I think we’re one of the strongest teams, but anything can happen.
Is it tough to play at a high level for Arsenal and then play for Spain at such a high level as well? Is it difficult to manage expectations and everything?
MZ: Well, maybe at the beginning, but I think once you’re in the flow you go in with the mentality that you’re part of it, with the confidence that it’s your job, that you have to win with that level of demand. And that’s our job, to live with that demand, to normalise it, and to win everything we can.
"IF YOU’RE NOT HERE TO WIN TITLES,
I DON’T THINK YOU’RE IN THE RIGHT
PLACE" - mikel merino
What do you like to do on a day off?
MM: Honestly, I live a pretty quiet life. When we have a day off and things have gone really well, you try to make a different plan, go to the theatre or a concert, for example. But in general, rest because there are so many games you end up exhausted and you don’t feel like doing anything. Or going for a walk with my wife and with the dog. Myself and Martin live near to each other. We live close to the training ground and the two of us are the kind who even on some days off, like to go in to work with the physio or do an upper-body session. We like to stay active, and that comes first. Then maybe go into the city, even if it’s a bit further away. The priority was ensuring it was easy getting to the training ground.
MZ: For the main needs of a footballer, it’s perfect.
Was it always your dream to play in the Premier League Martin?
MZ: My dream was always to play for Sociedad, and then from there I developed new goals and one of them was this one, which I’m sure was the best decision.
How would you describe your connection on the pitch?
MM: Our connection on the pitch has evolved over the years. It’s always been good. We’ve never talked about this though!
MZ: He gives me security. When I go to a team or to the national team and Merino is in midfield it gives me confidence that we’re going to be a cohesive unit, both defensively and in attack. It gives me peace of mind.
MM: Yeah, for me too now. I remember the first match I saw you coming on. From the beginning I remember getting home and telling my wife, “This kid who’s just come up, he looks really good, he has something.” At the beginning I was a bit tougher with you. I’d tell you off, but you handled it well which is something I loved too. When a young player is able to understand that what’s being said isn’t to attack you, but to help you improve, and he does so with the right attitude, that’s great. And now I shout at you less.... but still sometimes!
You both knew Martin Odegaard from your time together at Real Sociedad, and the three of you played in midfield against Nottingham Forest earlier this season for the first time since back in Spain. What was that like?
MZ: I personally did not overlap with him much. It was only three months after lockdown. So I wasn’t able to enjoy playing with Martin much. But, yes, we’ve talked about it, that when the three of us started together, it was like “Sociedad is back.”
Finally, what do you want to achieve while playing here in England?
MZ: On a personal level, it would be to extract every last drop of my potential. I don’t know how far it will take me, but feeling fulfilled, knowing I’ve given everything, and that this is how far my level and my work have taken me. And then, collectively, of course, trophies are something we have in mind, but like we said, football is very unpredictable. There are so many little details, so let’s see what we achieve.
MM: We’re the same team, going in the same direction, and me too. Hopefully, we can win, that’s the objective. This club doesn’t hide it, and this group does not hide it. Every interview someone gives, we say that’s the objective. If you’re not here to win titles, I don’t think you’re in the right place. Knowing it’s very difficult with your feet on the ground, but with the confidence that we’re an incredible team, and if we’re at our best, we’ll be very close.
Built with Shorthand
