Monday's briefing: Arsenal sign Zubimendi but no Vardy party at Rangers yet
The Spain international, 26, moves to the Emirates Stadium on a long-term deal after the Gunners reportedly triggered his £51million release clause.
Euro 2024 winner Zubimendi had previously been a target for Liverpool and was also linked with Real Madrid.
Zubimendi told the club website: 'This is a huge moment in my career. It's the move I was looking for and one I wanted to make. As soon as you set foot here, you realise how big this club and this team are.
'I set my sights on Arsenal because their style of play is a good fit for me. They have shown their potential recently and the best is yet to come.'
Forward Lauren Hemp insists England know what is at stake when they play the Netherlands on Wednesday as they bid to keep their European title defence alive.
The Lionesses' backs are against the wall after suffering an tournament-opening 2-1 defeat to France to set up what is already being billed as a 'must-win' meeting with 2017 champions the Netherlands.
'This team, a lot of the time, we thrive under pressure,' said Manchester City forward Hemp. 'Obviously it's one of those situations. Every game we go into, we want to win.
'From how we acted in the last 10 minutes (against France), we know what's at stake, and obviously we want to get as far as we can.
'We are reigning champions. It is important to remember that and gain confidence from that.'
Russell Martin refused to be drawn on reports linking Rangers with a move for former England and Leicester striker Jamie Vardy.
The 38-year-old forward, who has seen a move to Genoa fall through, has now been heavily touted for a switch to Ibrox after leaving the Foxes at the end of last season.
Recently appointed Rangers boss Martin remained coy but refused to dismiss the prospect, when asked after his side's 2-2 pre-season friendly draw at home to Club Brugge on Sunday if Vardy was a target.
'I think I've been asked about so many players,' he said. 'Some miles away, some on the money. So basically, I'm not going to give you an answer on that.
'But I guess you'll find out who's real and who's not in the next few weeks.'
R̶e̶c̶u̶p̶e̶r̶a̶c̶i̶ó̶n̶.̶̶T̶r̶a̶b̶a̶j̶o̶ ̶e̶n̶ ̶L̶a̶u̶s̶a̶n̶n̶e̶.̶𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 ✅
🔜 Jornada 2 (Fase de grupos).#WEURO2025 | #JugarLucharYGanar pic.twitter.com/NjOHIiERXP
— Selección Española Femenina de Fútbol (@SEFutbolFem) July 6, 2025
In the women's Euros, Spain continue their Group B campaign against Belgium, while Portugal take on Italy.
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Daily Record
31 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Six Rangers rights and wrongs from Russell Martin debut as Bajrami thrives but highwire act teeters on the brink
It was a far more encouraging second half showing but there are some aspects Rangers fans won't want to see again this season When Russell Martin named his first ever Rangers team for Sunday's friendly with Club Brugge - Ibrox punters had plenty of questions. But by the end of 90 minutes against the Belgians, which ended in a 2-2 draw, at least some of them were answered. It was a mixed bag for the new Gers gaffer at the weekend. After a ropey start which saw them go two goals down after 14 minutes, Martin 's men showed character to fight back. Goals from Mo Diomande and young Findlay Curtis gave the fans a bit of optimism ahead of the new campaign. It's still far too early to judge Martin or his side, especially with plenty of new signings still to come through the door. But with a Champions League qualifier against Panathinaikos on July 22, the manager's got work to do. Sunday's game provided an insight into how he wants Rangers to play, who might surprise him - and who is surplus to requirements. Here, Record Sport looks at what went right and wrong for Martin in his Ibrox dug-out debut: RIGHT The comeback When Club Brugge scored their second goal to go 2-0 up after just 14 minutes, it looked like it could get seriously messy. The Belgians, who are a Champions League side, looked in the mood to cause some damage, while Rangers looked lost. If Martin's new boys didn't know about the expectations and demands here, being booed off at half-time in a bounce game would have made it abundantly clear. At that point, Gers could have gone into their shell and accepted a heavy defeat. After all, it was their first match after just two weeks' training under their new boss. But credit to them. The resilience, determination and personality they showed in the second half will have pleased the manager. Martin will have learned a lot about the mentality of certain players who - friendly or not - showed up in the second half to ensure Rangers didn't lose the game. And that will give him something positive to build on going forward. Plenty of Rangers fans might have thought the Albanian would be a player Martin might look to sell in this window. The 26-year-old didn't set the heather on fire last term after being signed for £3 million by ex-gaffer Philippe Clement. Too often, Bajrami looked laboured, dis-interested and not suited to Scottish football. But his performance off the bench on Sunday offered a bit of hope that he might actually have a future at Rangers. In the second half, he was the catalyst for a far better, more energetic display. When Bajrami arrived in Glasgow last summer, he'd barely had a pre-season after playing at Euro 2024 and then returning to Italian club Sassuolo knowing he was being sold. But here, he looked fitter and fresher. His technical ability has never been in doubt and maybe in Martin's system, Bajrami can flourish. He's got plenty of competition in the shape of new boys like Joe Rothwell, Lyall Cameron and Thelo Aasgaard - but he did himself no harm against Brugge. James Tavernier at centre-half There's so much speculation over what the Rangers captain's role will be under Martin this season after the arrival of right-back Max Aarons from Bournemouth. Will he become a bit-part player, only used in certain games? Will he be pushed further forward? But Sunday might just have given a glimpse of where Tavernier could be utilised at certain times in the campaign. When he was introduced at half-time as a centre-back, he gave his team a lift and impressed in the position. Suddenly, Rangers looked like they had someone at the back who actually knew what they were doing. He galvanised his team-mates and it was no coincidence that Aarons looked far more comfortable with Tavernier by his side. Martin has already added Manny Fernandez in that position. Conor Coady and Nasser Djiga could be next. And don't forget John Souttar who is on his way back. But if Martin needs cover - or if he goes with a back three in games - Tavernier has proved he can do a job there. WRONG The high press No-one expected Rangers players to be adept in Martin's style this early, especially after just two weeks' training. But right from the off on Sunday, you could see how high a defensive line he wants to deploy at Ibrox. Martin demands that his side go after opposition teams in their own half to win the ball back, with aggression and intensity. But after the first 10 minutes against Club Brugge, when they went a goal down, the set-up became ragged and disjointed. Martin said himself that his players got 'caught in-between' pressing and sitting off. Then, when Brugge broke on them he was annoyed that they weren't clever enough to commit a foul and stop their attacks. Occasionally, you could even see players slipping into their old habits of last season. If Martin is going to adopt those tactics, every player has to be on the same page. Otherwise, it looks a mess and you get caught out defensively because you've committed too many players forward without regaining possession. In the second half, they got some joy by hunting down a Brugge mistake which resulted in Diomande's goal. But Martin will know there's lots of work to do if they're going to master it. Central defence With Manny Fernandez just in the door, and Ben Davies and John Souttar injured - Martin didn't have too many options at the back on Sunday. That meant he was forced to go with a pairing of Leon King and Robin Propper - and it just didn't work. Both players' futures probably lie away from Ibrox and the club is expected to offload them in this window. Propper has been linked with a move back to Holland and with the likes of Conor Coady and Nasser Djiga being chased by Rangers, that might suit all parties. The Dutchman lacks pace and mobility, which is crucial in a Martin team that wants to defend high up the pitch. He had a hand in Brugge's first goal when he tried to step into midfield, lost the ball and left a huge gap behind him. King just hasn't fulfilled the potential he showed as a kid at Rangers when Europe's top clubs were after him. He might actually be better as a sitting midfielder but he has to go somewhere else and play games. After Sunday, Martin will know that neither of these two will be Gers starters this season. Kieran Dowell It's understandable that Martin would have been keen to give the midfielder a chance to shine after taking over at Ibrox. He will surely have heard good things about the 27-year-old from his old club Norwich City, where Dowell spent three years. He returned to Rangers after a successful loan stint at Birmingham in League One last term, so deserved an opportunity to impress his new manager. Dowell was deployed as one of Martin's attacking midfielders against Brugge and given licence to go and affect the game. But the truth is - just like much of his Ibrox career so far - he failed to make any sort of positive impression. In a poor first half on Sunday, Dowell was largely anonymous and struggled to impact proceedings. He looked unsure of himself in and around the box when Martin would have wanted to see him be decisive in creating chances or getting shots off. It hasn't worked for Dowell in Glasgow and with just a year left on his contract, it's hard to see a future for him at the club. With Joe Rothwell and Thelo Aasgaard coming into that area of the pitch at Rangers, his days are numbered. And Sunday's display did nothing to change that.
Metro
31 minutes ago
- Metro
Mikel Arteta warned about two 'problems' with Arsenal signing Martin Zubimendi
Mikel Arteta has been warned that new signing Martin Zubimendi may not be a ready-made fit for Arsenal's midfield. The Gunners finally confirmed the long-awaited signing of Zubimendi on the weekend, with the midfielder joining from Real Sociedad for £51million. The Spain international turned down a move to Liverpool last summer and attracted interest from Real Madrid, but has instead chosen to join Arsenal on a five-year deal. Zubimendi is expected to be thrown straight into the heart of Arsenal's midfield, especially following the departures of Thomas Partey and Jorginho at the end of last month. However, former Arsenal midfielder Stewart Robson is concerned that his former side may have overpaid for Zubimendi and fears the 26-year-old may not possess the range of passing to help break down stubborn defences. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. 'He's not dynamic,' Robson told ESPN. 'He plays the holding role and he'll keep the ball quite nicely, but I've done commentary on La Liga and I'll have a little joke about how many times he's going to pass it forward. 'He hardly ever passes it forward – there's no penetrative or goalscoring passes, he just keeps the thing flowing. 'There are lots of players who can do that, and you're paying a lot of money for a player who can just keep things moving along.' Concerns were also raised about whether Zubimendi could adapt to the fast-paced nature of the Premier League, with former Liverpool player Steve Nicol unsure if the Spaniard will be able to cope. 'If you're going to let Odegaard and Rice get forward, you know they are going to pen teams in,' Nicol said. 'The biggest problem Manchester City have got is when teams get out, you don't have anyone in the middle of the park to stop them. 'I don't see how this guy stops them. He's not quick around the field and that's my problem.' Will Martin Zubimendi be a success at Arsenal? Robson, meanwhile, added: 'He's no more athletic than Jorginho is and he certainly won't be as good defensively as Rodri. 'In my view, if you're going to be a holding midfielder – even if you are good on the ball – you have to be a good athlete. More Trending 'You have to cover full-backs and midfield players who have gone forward, you might have to drop in between your centre halves at times, and I don't see him doing that.' Arteta, however, is convinced that Zubimendi will only add to his side's quality in the middle of the park. 'Martin is a player who will bring a huge amount of quality and football intelligence to our team,' he said. 'He will fit in really well and he has all the attributes to be a key player for us. 'The standard he has consistently performed at over the last few seasons for both club and country is exactly why we are so excited to have him with us. We all welcome Martin and his family to the club.' For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Viktor Gyokeres makes huge offer to help force through Arsenal transfer MORE: Martin Zubimendi – the 'next Xabi Alonso' who can win Arsenal the Premier League MORE: Chelsea send transfer warning amid interest in forgotten £23m star
Daily Record
44 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Findlay Curtis turns Rangers dream into reality as Russell Martin's running man understands the assignment
Curtis was the only player to play the full 90 against Club Brugge as he embraces new boss' non negotiable with gusto His body was telling him he had nothing left in the tank. With just a minute to go at Ibrox on Sunday, young Findlay Curtis was the only Rangers player going to last the full 90. No-one could have said he hadn't put a shift in against Club Brugge. And in Russell Martin's first friendly, the kid had impressed his new gaffer. So when Nedim Bajrami broke through on goal, it would have been easy for Curtis just to let the Albanian get on with it. After all, a few minutes before, he was struggling to WALK as his legs cramped up. But his head told him there was one last, lung-bursting sprint left in him. Somehow, he summoned up the energy, not just to get in the box and offer himself to Bajrami. But to collect a pass, compose himself and produce a clinical finish beyond the Brugge keeper for a goal that earned Martin and Rangers a 2-2 draw. And in doing so, Curtis turned a dream of scoring for his boyhood club at Ibrox into reality. The 18-year-old will have had worse Sunday afternoons. The bounce game against Brugge might not matter too much in the grand scheme of things. But for Curtis it could be vital as he tries to make a lasting impression on his manager that - amidst an influx of new players - keeps him in Rangers' first-team squad for the foreseeable future. He's not the finished article, by any stretch. But when Martin arrived in Glasgow this summer, he revealed his first non-negotiable as a boss was that players had to run. Judging by Sunday's display, Curtis will do that all day for him. That's why he was the only sweat-filled blue shirt to play the entire game. And the youngster's resilience late on - as well as a tidy finish - will have pleased his manager no-end. Afterwards, Curtis could barely wipe the smile off his face. As he reflected on his performance, he said: 'I was buzzing with the goal, it's a dream come true for me to score at Ibrox. 'Nedim played the ball through to me and we'd been working on that for a full week. 'So I was just delighted that he set me up to score a goal. 'I just saw Nedim running and I thought, let's put the burners on and hopefully score, which I did. 'It was a sloppy start from us in the first half but the boys who came on in the second half brought a real energy - that's what the manager wanted. 'It was great to get the goal after a good second half performance. 'It's been intense under the gaffer. He wants us to do loads of runs and I think you saw that on Sunday. 'I'm just delighted to be part of it. 'I was the only one to play 90 minutes and I've been working on my running all week - and in the off-season. 'I wanted to come back the fittest I've been and I was pleased to get the 90 as well as a goal.' Martin has already added five new players to his ranks this summer, with Lyall Cameron, Max Aarons, Joe Rothwell, Manny Fernandez and Thelo Aasgaard all arriving at Ibrox. And by the time Rangers take on Panathinaikos in a Champions League qualifier on July 22, that number could go well into double figures. It's never easy at the best of times for a young player to make the breakthrough at Rangers. With Martin under pressure to win and deliver silverware, it might be even more difficult for academy graduates. But young Curtis has a steely resolve about him and he plans to work so hard, it will be impossible for the gaffer to ignore him. On whether he feels he'll get an opportunity this season, the teenager said: 'It's obviously the manager's decision who plays. All I can do is try and impress over the coming weeks and see what happens. 'It's early days but I really want to impress him. 'The ambition is to make the next step and become one of the first names on his team sheet. 'It's down to him but I just have to work hard in training. 'What are the differences under this manager? It's just more intense. 'He's brought a real energy into the training ground and he wants to play in his style. I think it's working so far. 'There's been a positive reaction from the players to what he's trying to achieve. 'All the boys are buzzing with it. It looks like the group is coming together, which is great to see. 'I'm happy wherever the manager plays me. Hopefully there's a bit of trust there from him that I can play off both wings, like I did on Sunday - or as a number 10. 'Wherever I'm playing on the pitch, I'll just give my all for this team.' Rangers will head to England this week for another week's training as they prepare for that Champions League crunch against the Greeks. More fresh faces will be on board by then and whether Curtis will get to play a part in a huge European tie remains to be seen. He's just hoping to do enough that IF he's called upon - Martin can have faith in him to do a job. Curtis said: 'We've still got two weeks before the Panathinaikos game so we'll just focus on our trip to St George's Park first. 'Do I feel capable of playing at that level? I suppose we'll just need to wait and see. 'Right now, it's about me impressing the manager and hopefully he can put that trust in me.'
