Martin Zubimendi has struggled for minutes this season in an Arsenal team that is overflowing with quality and depth with Real Madrid long-term admirers of the Spaniard

Arsenal star Martin Zubimendi is struggling to catch a break at the Emirates with Real Madrid still long-term admirers of the midfielder.

The Spaniard, fresh off winning the World Cup in the summer, has struggled for minutes, which in part has owed to some untimely injuries. A fortnight ago he broke his nose after coming on as a substitute in a win over Everton. Prior to that, after the Gunners played Leeds on October 10, he sustained a knock in the warm down.

Zubimendi was on Mikel Arteta's radar for several transfer windows before he eventually captured the midfielder from Real Sociedad, but he's far from a guaranteed starter nowadays.

The 27-year-old's fall down the pecking order began last season when, despite being a regular for much of the season, he was dropped for the Champions League final as Myles Lewis-Skelly was preferred to face PSG.

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Arsenal's squad depth has been well documented, but inevitably there are players who will lose out as a result. In midfield Arteta currently has Declan Rice, who is an ever present, and the likes of Lewis-Skelly, Mikel Merino, Martin Odegaard and summer signing Bruno Guimaraes to compete with Zubimendi.

All six of Zubimendi's Premier League outings have come from the bench. Of his 10 appearances in all competitions he's only been a starter on two occasions.

Arsenal's depth of quality could leave certain individuals wanting to move on in search of more minutes. Zubimendi has long been Real's radar, reports The Sun. That interest began when Xabi Alonso, who knew him from his time at Sociedad, was in charge.

Arteta has maintained that Zubimendi, who started 34 of the team's 38 league games last term, remains a player he values, but underlined the fact that there are plenty of players wanting opportunities.

“Martin is a very important player for us," he said. "He has been a bit unlucky with what happened with his ankle, with the nose afterwards. We have options in midfield and, like everybody else, he has to be ready.

“Everyone will have the chance to play, then it is about performing. His energy, his application, his will to help is unquestionable. He is an unbelievable player for us.”