Arsenal have signed a player as dominant in the air as Virgil van Dijk – and it’s not who you think

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Mikel Arteta has made a signing at Arsenal this summer who is as good as Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool in the air this season.

Arsenal are flying high in the Premier League this season, quite literally. After six games, the Gunners head into the international break top of the table.

Mikel Arteta’s side have been extremely well-drilled, and a lot of that comes down to some new Arsenal summer arrivals who have made sensational starts to life at the Emirates.

But one has made a better start than all the rest, and that has to be Martin Zubimendi, who looks right at home in an Arsenal jersey. He’s even displaying remarkable characteristics that the Gunners had no idea he possessed.

Martin Zubimendi as good in the air as Virgil van Dijk

Remarkable stats have emerged showing that Arsenal’s 5’9″ Spanish midfielder shares a 90% aerial success rate this season with none other than Liverpool’s towering Dutch centre-back, Virgil van Dijk.

Naturally, Arsenal have a squad of giants, with the likes of Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba, and more all present – but you wouldn’t expect Zubimendi to be as good in the air as he has been.

Instead, you might have thought it would be one of the new signings, Cristian Mosquera or Viktor Gyokeres, who both stand tall at 6’2″ and are known for their physicality.

Viktor Gyokeres criticised for aerial ability

Despite his stature, Gyokeres was actually criticised heavily for his aerial ability before joining the Gunners.

Before joining Arsenal, Gyokeres had 175 career goals, 136 of which were with his right foot, 31 with his left, and just six were headers.

This is why fans thought it was ironic that Gyokeres scored his first Arsenal goal with his head against Bilbao.

Instead, it appears to be the little Spaniard Zubimendi making waves in the air, which has been equally as impressive as his left foot in the early stages of this campaign. Long may it continue for Arsenal fans.