Arteta blocks Zubimendi and Hincapie exits

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has blocked two outgoings from North London this January. New reports say the champions are fending off interest from European giants for some of their biggest stars who have started the season slowly. The Gunners are now top of the league and in a strong position to go deep in the Champions League, and Arteta appears determined to keep the squad that won him the Premier League last term.

No January sales for the Gunners

Arsenal will not be selling in January. Midfielder Martin Zubimendi has played a bit‑part role this season (Image credit: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images). Although it is only November, Zubimendi has been linked with an Emirates Stadium exit this January since the transfer window closed.

Midfield and defensive options under pressure

The 2026 World Cup winner signed for Arteta last summer ahead of Liverpool, Real Madrid and Barcelona in a huge coup, but is already fourth in the midfield pecking order after Myles Lewis‑Skelly emerged and Bruno Guimaraes was signed. Sport Witness reported that Arteta has had to block Zubimendi’s departure in the winter window together with Piero Hincapie, whose start to the season has been interrupted by injury and the form of fellow left‑back Riccardo Calafiori. Hincapie originally joined on loan from Bayer Leverkusen in the same window as Zubimendi, became a valuable first‑teamer by season’s end and started in the Champions League final ahead of Calafiori before Arsenal made his signing permanent.

Spanish reports claim Barcelona would like to bring the versatile Ecuadorian to Catalonia amid a defensive crisis, but Arteta does not want to deplete his squad and sanction the sale. The Gunners boss is equally reluctant to let Zubimendi go, having invested heavily in his signing and fought off competition, and understands Arsenal see his role potentially increasing as the season progresses. Last term the Basque midfielder was almost ever‑present alongside Declan Rice in midfield before burnout saw him drop to the bench in favour of Lewis‑Skelly, and Arteta recognises he could push himself back into the first‑team picture this season. Piero Hincapie will not leave Arsenal this winter.

The Premier League champions realise that to compete for the biggest prizes they will likely need to bring in players in January rather than sell, having left themselves somewhat short in attacking areas over the summer. Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard all left before the season began, with Christos Tzolis replacing the trio and Eberechi Eze given more chances on the left wing. Arsenal travel to Slavia Prague as Champions League action continues tonight.