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When Rodri went off injured at half-time of the Euro 2024 final, it could have been something of a turning point. The Manchester City midfielder didn't emerge for the second period of that game with England, and the reaction on these shores was that whoever was replacing him was never going to fill that void.

But Spain has a habit of producing these kinds of players, and Martin Zubimendi used those 45 minutes in Berlin to announce himself to the world stage. A few weeks later, Liverpool tried to sign him. Real Madrid and Barcelona were linked and, eventually, he joined Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta had to wait a year to get his man, but the fact Arsenal's sights never veered from the 26-year-old tells you all you need to know about how importantly they view him. When it comes to hold

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