Diego Simeone during Atletico Madrid’s defeat to Arsenal (Picture: Getty)

Diego Simeone hailed Arsenal as the ‘best team’ Atletico Madrid have faced this season after his side were beaten 4-0 at the Emirates Stadium in th…

El Clasico awaits this weekend.

Martin Zubimendi has explained why he rejected interest from Real Madrid and Liverpool to join Arsenal.

The Spanish midfielder completed a £60m move to Arsenal over the summer and has enjoyed an impressive start to his Premier League career.

Zubimendi has featured in all eight of Arsenal’s league games so far this season, helping Mikel Arteta’s side climb to the top of the table.

The 26-year-old was close to joining reigning Premier League champions Liverpool in the summer of 2024 but decided to snub the Anfield club in favour of spending one more season at boyhood club Real Sociedad.

Real Madrid then expressed interest in signing Zubimendi last summer but the Euro 2024 winner says he had already decided to join Arsenal following talks with Arteta.

Asked why he favoured a move to Arsenal despite interest from Real Madrid, Zubimendi told AS: ‘I don’t know, you get a feeling.

‘Once I decided to leave Sociedad, Arsenal was a team that, from what I’d seen, suited me well, especially in terms of play.

‘I also wanted a very detail-oriented manager, and in Mikel, as soon as I spoke to him, I found him.

‘At Arsenal there was a very young team, with a lot of passion, very close-knit, eager to win, and even though they haven’t been able to do so, that makes them even more eager.’

Asked if it was difficult to reject Real Madrid, who had just appointed legendary footballer Xabi Alonso as their new manager, Zubimendi added: ‘I can’t talk about other teams.

‘Arsenal was the one I had decided on, and I went all in.’

It has been suggested in Spain that Real Madrid are missing a player like Zubimendi despite the fact they are currently top of La Liga.

‘I don’t know, I don’t know. We’re talking about very big clubs,’ Zubimendi said when it was put to him that Real Madrid could do with a player of his profile.

‘To say that Real Madrid was missing a piece like me is saying something because all the players they have are spectacular.’

Arsenal boss Arteta heaped praise on Zubimendi ahead of the club’s Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night.

Asked about Zubimendi’s form and pundits likening the Arsenal star to Manchester City’s Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, Arteta told Marca: ‘I don’t like comparisons.

‘I think ‘Zubi’ has to make his own way, and he’s doing so. Since he’s arrived, his impact on the team has been exceptional, and that’s very difficult.

‘I’ve seen many midfielders reach the Premier League, coming from top positions in other leagues, and they’ve struggled; it’s taken them a year or two to become who they are.

‘The speed and naturalness with which he’s adapting is surprising.

‘We’ve given him confidence and a clear role, at all levels, including decisions we’ve made here with players who were there but are no longer here.

‘We gave him space. And then, he feels comfortable with our style; it suits his way of playing.’

Arsenal are joint-top of the Champions League table with two wins from two, while Atletico Madrid are currently 10th on three points.

While the Gunners beat Olympiakos and Athletic Bilbao, Diego Simeone’s Atletico returned to winning ways against Eintracht Frankfurt following an opening defeat to Liverpool.

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Mikel Arteta has named the Arsenal summer signing who has ‘surprised’ him since joining the club.

Arsenal backed Arteta with a productive and impressive transfer window, spending more than £250m on new signings.

Viktor Gyokeres, Martin Zubimendi, Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke, Cristhian Mosquera, Christian Norgaard, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Piero Hincapie all arrived at the Emirates Stadium.

The new recruits appear to be having the desired effect, with Arsenal currently three points clear at the top of the Premier League and joint-top of the Champions League.

Arteta admits he was ‘very happy’ with Arsenal’s transfer window and has explained what has ‘surprised’ him about new midfielder Martin Zubimendi.

Arsenal spent £60m to sign Zubimendi from Real Sociedad, 12 months after the Spain international almost joining Premier League champions Liverpool.

Liverpool dropped out of the race to sign Zubimendi this summer but Arsenal faced competition from Real Madrid, who were keen to bring the Euro 2024 winner to the Bernabeu.

Asked about Zubimendi and pundits likening the Arsenal star to Manchester City’s Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, Arteta told Marca: ‘I don’t like comparisons.

‘I think ‘Zubi’ has to make his own way, and he’s doing so. Since he’s arrived, his impact on the team has been exceptional, and that’s very difficult.

‘I’ve seen many midfielders reach the Premier League, coming from top positions in other leagues, and they’ve struggled; it’s taken them a year or two to become who they are.

‘The speed and naturalness with which he’s adapting is surprising.

‘We’ve given him confidence and a clear role, at all levels, including decisions we’ve made here with players who were there but are no longer here.

‘We gave him space. And then, he feels comfortable with our style; it suits his way of playing.’

Asked about the Real Madrid fans who feel aggrieved that Zubimendi ended up at Arsenal, Arteta added: ‘[Laughs] I can only say that… it’s good that we have him because he was a player that we needed to take a step forward as a team.’

Discussing Arsenal’s transfer window more generally, Arteta continued: ‘I’m happy with the signings.

‘We’ve had a very good transfer window, learning from the past, with profiles we didn’t have and needed, and now it’s a matter of making everything work and each one making the other better.’

Arsenal beat Fulham 1-0 at the weekend to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League.

The Gunners’ impressive form, Liverpool’s wobble and Manchester City’s inconsistency has made Arsenal the favourites to become English champions for the first time since 2004.

‘We take that pressure naturally,’ Arteta said when asked about Arsenal’s tag as Premier League favourites.

‘We’ve created high expectations through our work, and that’s part of elite football. Besides, these are things that arise outside the team and we can’t control them.

‘We focus more on the day-to-day, ensuring the team is heading in the direction it needs to be so that by April or May, when everything is decided, we’re ready.’

Arsenal put their Premier League title charge to one side on Tuesday when they return to Champions League action against Atletico Madrid.

Diego Simeone’s Atletico are currently fourth in La Liga, eight points behind leaders and arch-rivals Real Madrid.

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