Martín Zubimendi Stats: Goals, Assists, Appearances and 2025–26 Analysis

Martín Zubimendi Stats: An Introduction

Martín Zubimendi has built his reputation as one of Europe’s most intelligent defensive midfielders. His numbers rarely look like those of a traditional attacking star, but that is exactly why his statistics need context. His value comes from controlling possession, protecting the defence, progressing the ball and helping his team dictate the rhythm of a match.

The 2025–26 campaign gave supporters a much larger sample of Zubimendi in the Premier League. Playing for Arsenal, he appeared in 38 Premier League matches, started 34 and played 2,992 minutes, finishing the league campaign with five goals and one assist.

Those five goals stand out because Zubimendi is primarily a holding midfielder rather than a player whose job is to attack the penalty area. His overall contribution, however, is much broader than goals and assists.

This guide looks at the most important Martín Zubimendi stats, explains what they tell us about his playing style and compares his recent Arsenal numbers with his final season at Real Sociedad.

Martín Zubimendi 2025–26 Premier League Stats

The clearest snapshot of Zubimendi’s first full Premier League season is his league record.

Statistic	2025–26 Premier League
Club	Arsenal
Appearances	38
Starts	34
Substitute appearances	4
Minutes	2,992
Goals	5
Assists	1
Yellow cards	4
Red cards	0
Goals per 90	0.15
Assists per 90	0.03
Goal contributions	6

FBref records Zubimendi at 38 league appearances, 34 starts and 2,992 minutes, with five goals and one assist. His five goals equate to approximately 0.15 goals per 90 minutes.

StatBunker reports the same basic league totals and shows that he was one of Arsenal’s most-used players, appearing in every Premier League match during the campaign.

That consistency matters. A defensive midfielder has to understand positioning and team structure almost instinctively, and regular selection suggests how much responsibility he carried in Arsenal’s midfield.

How Many Goals Did Zubimendi Score in 2025–26?

Zubimendi scored five Premier League goals during the 2025–26 season.

For a player operating largely from a deeper midfield position, that is a notable return. Arsenal’s leading league scorer was Viktor Gyökeres with 14 goals, while Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze each scored seven. Zubimendi finished behind those attacking players but ahead of several regular midfield and defensive options.

His five goals were not all produced in the same way. StatBunker records three with his right foot and two headers, showing that his scoring contribution included both shooting and aerial situations.

The bigger takeaway is not that Zubimendi suddenly became a prolific scorer. Rather, his numbers show that he was capable of adding goals without abandoning his primary midfield responsibilities.

How Many Assists Did Zubimendi Have?

Zubimendi recorded one Premier League assist in 2025–26.

That may look modest compared with creative midfielders, but assists are not the best way to measure his influence. His role is generally to connect the defensive line with the midfield, circulate possession and help create the conditions for more advanced players to attack.

A player can make a major contribution to an attacking move without supplying the final pass. This is particularly relevant when assessing a deep-lying midfielder.

Zubimendi’s Champions League Stats

Zubimendi also played an important role for Arsenal in the Champions League.

During the 2025–26 competition, he made 13 appearances and played 996 minutes, including 11 starts. He scored no goals but registered two assists in the Champions League.

That produces a different statistical picture from his Premier League campaign. His league numbers show a surprisingly useful scoring contribution, while his European numbers highlight his ability to contribute creatively from deeper areas.

Across the Premier League and Champions League alone, his numbers came to 51 appearances, 45 starts and 3,988 minutes, with five goals and three assists. This illustrates how heavily Arsenal relied on him across major competitions.

StatBunker’s complete 2025–26 competition record also lists appearances in the EFL Cup, where he made three appearances and scored once. Its all-competition record lists 46 appearances, 41 starts, 4,058 minutes, six goals and three assists across the competitions covered in that record.

What Do Martín Zubimendi Stats Say About His Playing Style?

Looking only at goals and assists can give a misleading impression of Zubimendi.

He is a defensive midfielder who specializes in control. His job is often to receive the ball under pressure, make himself available to defenders, choose the right passing option and prevent the midfield from becoming disconnected.

That means his most important actions can happen several seconds before a dangerous attack develops.

Passing and Possession Control

Zubimendi is particularly effective when a team wants to build attacks patiently.

Rather than constantly looking for a spectacular forward pass, he often makes the simple decision that keeps possession moving. That can mean switching play, passing into a nearby midfielder or recycling the ball to a centre-back.

This style is easy to overlook on a traditional stat sheet. A midfielder can complete a large number of useful actions without collecting goals or assists.

Defensive Positioning

His defensive value also comes from positioning rather than simply making tackles.

A well-positioned holding midfielder can stop an attack before a tackle is necessary. By occupying the correct space in front of the defence, Zubimendi can close passing lanes, cover advancing teammates and give Arsenal’s other midfielders more freedom.

That is one reason his statistical profile should be evaluated alongside his role in the team.

Ball Recovery

Zubimendi also contributes when possession changes hands.

His ability to read developing attacks helps him move into useful defensive positions quickly. Instead of relying exclusively on physical challenges, he often tries to anticipate where the next pass will go.

For a possession-focused side, that combination of anticipation and technical ability is extremely valuable.

Martín Zubimendi Stats at Real Sociedad

Before joining Arsenal, Zubimendi spent his senior club career with Real Sociedad, where he became a key figure in the club’s midfield.

His final La Liga season with Real Sociedad, 2024–25, provides an interesting comparison. He played 36 league matches, started 33 and accumulated 2,962 minutes. He scored two goals during the campaign.

His defensive statistics from that season also underline his role. FBref records 41 tackles won and 42 interceptions in La Liga, along with six yellow cards.

The contrast with his first Arsenal league season is striking.

At Real Sociedad in 2024–25, he scored two league goals. At Arsenal in 2025–26, he scored five. The increase does not necessarily mean that his fundamental role changed; it can also reflect differences in team structure, attacking opportunities and the situations in which he found himself around the penalty area.

Zubimendi’s Arsenal Numbers Compared With Real Sociedad

A simple comparison makes the change easier to understand.

Statistic	Real Sociedad 2024–25 La Liga	Arsenal 2025–26 Premier League
Appearances	36	38
Starts	33	34
Minutes	2,962	2,992
Goals	2	5
Assists	—	1
Goals per 90	—	0.15

The two seasons are not identical statistical environments, so the comparison should not be treated as a direct measure of improvement. Still, the numbers show that Zubimendi became more productive in front of goal during his first Arsenal league campaign.

His playing-time figures are particularly interesting. He played almost exactly the same number of league minutes in both seasons: 2,962 for Real Sociedad and 2,992 for Arsenal.

That consistency suggests that the jump in goals was not simply caused by playing more football.

Why Zubimendi’s Numbers Matter to Arsenal

A midfielder’s statistics should always be connected to team tactics.

Arsenal do not need Zubimendi to behave like a second striker. They need him to give the team structure. When he sits behind more advanced midfielders, he can help protect against counterattacks while also becoming the first reliable passing option during buildup.

His 38 Premier League appearances in 2025–26 demonstrate how central that role became. StatBunker lists him as Arsenal’s leader for league appearances, with 34 starts and four substitute appearances.

His availability also gives the manager tactical flexibility.

With a reliable defensive midfielder behind them, more attacking players can move forward without leaving the team completely exposed in transition.

Are Zubimendi’s Stats Good for a Defensive Midfielder?

Yes, but the answer depends on which statistics you prioritize.

If you judge a midfielder mainly by goals and assists, Zubimendi will not compete with elite attacking midfielders. Five Premier League goals and one assist are useful numbers, but they are not the foundation of his reputation.

If you assess him through minutes, starts, tactical responsibility, defensive positioning, ball progression and possession control, the picture becomes much stronger.

His 2,992 Premier League minutes and 34 starts demonstrate that he was trusted consistently. His five goals then become an added benefit rather than the main reason for his selection.

Zubimendi vs Other Midfielders: How Should You Compare Him?

Comparing Zubimendi directly with an attacking midfielder can be misleading.

For example, an advanced playmaker may be expected to produce high assist and chance-creation numbers. Zubimendi operates deeper, so his responsibilities are different.

A better comparison is with other holding or deep-lying midfielders.

When evaluating players in this role, look at:

Minutes and starts

Passing volume and accuracy

Progressive passing

Ball recoveries

Tackles and interceptions

Press resistance

Turnovers

Defensive positioning

Ability to support buildup

Goals and assists as secondary measures

This approach gives a more realistic picture of what the player actually contributes.

What Makes Zubimendi Statistically Interesting?

One of the most interesting aspects of his numbers is the balance between reliability and efficiency.

He played nearly 3,000 Premier League minutes and started 34 matches, yet he still contributed five goals. That is not the profile of a midfielder who simply sits in front of the defence for 90 minutes.

At the same time, his overall output is not so attack-heavy that it changes his identity. His statistics still fit a player whose first responsibility is controlling the middle of the pitch.

That balance is what makes Zubimendi useful to a possession-based team.

The Bigger Picture Behind Martín Zubimendi Stats

Statistics tell us what happened, but they do not always explain why.

Zubimendi’s numbers become more meaningful when viewed alongside his tactical role. His job is often to make Arsenal more stable, more connected and harder to counter.

That can involve actions that never appear in a goals-and-assists column.

A successful defensive midfielder may receive the ball under pressure, play a safe pass, move into a new position and receive it again. None of those actions necessarily produces a headline statistic, but together they can control the entire rhythm of a match.

This is why Zubimendi’s statistics should be viewed as a profile rather than a single number.

Martín Zubimendi Stats: Key Takeaways

The most important numbers from his recent career are easy to summarize:

38 Premier League appearances in 2025–26

34 Premier League starts

2,992 Premier League minutes

5 Premier League goals

1 Premier League assist

13 Champions League appearances

996 Champions League minutes

2 Champions League assists

36 La Liga appearances for Real Sociedad in 2024–25

2,962 La Liga minutes for Real Sociedad in 2024–25

2 La Liga goals in his final Real Sociedad season

The numbers show a midfielder who has combined durability with an increasingly useful attacking contribution.

Conclusion

Martín Zubimendi’s statistics tell the story of a midfielder whose value extends well beyond the conventional attacking numbers.

His 2025–26 Premier League record of 38 appearances, 34 starts, 2,992 minutes, five goals and one assist shows remarkable consistency while also revealing an unexpected scoring contribution. His Champions League campaign added 13 appearances, 996 minutes and two assists.

The most useful way to judge Zubimendi is therefore not to ask whether he produces the same numbers as an attacking midfielder. The better question is whether his statistics match the responsibilities of a deep-lying midfielder.

They do.

His playing time demonstrates trust, his defensive work supports team structure, and his passing helps connect different areas of the pitch. The five Premier League goals in 2025–26 are an added bonus.

For anyone researching Martín Zubimendi stats, the key lesson is simple: his numbers make the most sense when goals, assists and appearances are combined with an understanding of what he is actually asked to do on the pitch.

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