Arsenal's Missing Piece: The Real Reason Martin Zubimendi Won't Face Slavia Prague
Arsenal will be missing several crucial players for their fourth Champions League match of the group stage, most notably suspended midfielder Martín Zubimendi.
Acquiring the Real Sociedad playmaker was Arsenal's primary transfer target during the summer window, as Mikel Arteta sought to fill the void left by Jorginho and Thomas Partey's departures.
Zubimendi has proven to be an excellent addition for the Premier League frontrunners. Operating as Arsenal's defensive midfielder, the Spanish star has accumulated the third-highest playing time in Arteta's roster this season across all tournaments (1,099 minutes) and found the net twice, with both strikes coming during the commanding 3–0 triumph against Nottingham Forest in September.
Nevertheless, the Arsenal manager must find an alternative solution for Tuesday evening's match in the Czech capital, as the Gunners take on Slavia Prague in their fourth group stage encounter, hoping to preserve their flawless record in the tournament.
The visiting team was already missing Gabriel Jesus, Martin Ødegaard, Kai Havertz, Noni Madueke, and Gabriel Martinelli through various injuries. While Zubimendi sustained a minor injury during Saturday's 2–0 victory against Burnley, this isn't the cause of his midweek unavailability.
Why Arsenal's Martín Zubimendi Isn't Playing vs. Slavia Prague?
Viktor Gyökeres and Zubimendi both raised fitness concerns over the weekend, with Gyökeres suffering a muscular problem that will sideline him until after the November international window.
Zubimendi, however, participated in training before Arsenal's journey to Prague, but won't join the traveling squad. The Spanish midfielder became the first player this Champions League season to receive a suspension due to yellow card accumulation. He has collected three cautions during the Gunners' opening three group matches, resulting in his ban for Tuesday's encounter against Slavia Prague.
The midfielder will be available again for their fifth group game, when Arsenal host Bundesliga table-toppers Bayern Munich at the Emirates.
Zubimendi remains on thin ice, as UEFA regulations state that players will receive additional one-match suspensions for every subsequent odd-numbered yellow card after their third. Should the Spanish international collect a fifth booking before the slate is cleared following the quarterfinal stage, he'll face another suspension.
As his replacement, Arteta has selected another summer signing, Christian Nørgaard, to fill the defensive midfield role.
Arsenal Starting XI vs. Slavia Prague
(4-3-3): David Raya; Jurriën Timber, William Saliba, Gabriel, Piero Hincapié; Ethan Nwaneri, Christian Nørgaard, Declan Rice; Bukayo Saka, Mikel Merino, Leandro Trossard.