The second-game scoring ignites North London! Zubimendi: From San Sebastian to Chiefs, I was born for the competition

"If the script could be written in advance, I would not change a word." - Martin Zubimendi 90 minutes of the final whistle sounded, the scoreboard was frozen at 3-0, and the long-lost chorus of "We Can't Win" sounded at the Emirates Stadium. The camera is aimed at the protagonist of the double-shot tonight: Martin Zubimendi, Arsenal's quietest but heaviest signing this summer, and used two goals to tear the three words "run-in period" to pieces.

【Data Board】

• Touch: 102 times

• Pass success rate: 94% (82/87)

• Key passes: 4 times

• Interception: 3 times

• Long-range world wave: 1 speed of 104km/h

—OpTA gave 8.9 points after the game, with the highest single game in the Premier League so far.

"The last time I had two goals in a single game was the 2021 Cup of Kings," Zubimendi put the jersey on her shoulders, and sweat dripped down the ends of her hair, "But the meaning of tonight is different. I was wearing Arsenal Red."

The first ball happened in the 27th minute: The forest cleared not far away, the ball bounced at the top of the penalty area, the Spaniard shot, and the ball seemed to have GPS installed and drilled into the upper left dead corner. In the stands, Arteta roared with his fist - the "long-range missile" he has been looking for since 2022.

"I didn't practice this kick in purpose," Zubimendi shrugged, "But at Zubieta (Real Sociedad Base), I kicked 50 times a day against the plastic man wall, but no one took it."

The second goal reflects the "No. 6" instinct: In the 63rd minute, Saka cut in the right and shot was saved, and Zubimendi appeared in the small penalty area like a ghost, with a padding on his toes, and the score was rewritten to 2-0. After scoring, he put his finger in his ears and listened to the decibels in North London - the decibels meter showed 113, tying the top three in the Emirates Stadium history.

"I am not a spectator in the Premier League," he said, "I will decide the rhythm." In addition to the data, he made Arsenal's pass network appear in the "Spanish triangle" for the first time: Gabriel Zubimendi Rice, the trio completed 56 consecutive passes, directly tearing the forest's high-level press to pieces. After the game, Rodgers admitted helplessly: "We are not robbing one person, but a dealing machine."

[Background Board]

Last week, Anfield lost 0-2, and the Arsenal midfielder was criticized for being "soft as soft as a wet tissue"; 72 hours later, the same engine compartment was replaced with titanium alloy. Arteta only said three sentences in the locker room: "Defense is fist, offense is brain, and Martin commands."

[Future]

48 hours later, Arsenal will rush to San Mames Bilbao to challenge the Champions League first round opponent - also Zubimendi's most troublesome away game in the past six seasons. "I lost 3 times there, but this time I took the away bus and wore the home team jacket," he laughed, "It's time to tear off the old page."

Then schedule:

• 9/18 Champions League Athletic Bilbao vs Arsenal

• 9/21 Premier League Arsenal vs Manchester City

"People say September decides the championship," Zubimendi put on his headphones, and the drum beats of the Spanish rapper came from inside, "I say September determines faith."

The fireworks in the night sky in North London have not dispersed, and Arsenal fans have compiled the names of their new idols into songs: "He's from San Sebastián, he scores when he wants—Zubi! Zubi!" If he could step on the turf in Saint Mames again mid-week, the melody would float further into the European night sky.

[Reporter's Notes]

From Xavi Alonso to Busquets, the Spanish "metronome" always failed to adapt to the curse in the Premier League, and was kicked to pieces by Zubimendi. Arsenal has been searching for guns for ten years, and the original answer is hidden in the sea breeze of San Sebastian. Now, the barrel is hot, next stop: the Basque lion's nest.