Zubimendi: red vitamin

Zubimendi starts for Spain against Czech Republic after 318 days, with Rodri sidelined by injury and Arsenal limiting his club minutes to just 11% this season.

Martín Zubimendi will make his 19th Spain start today against Czech Republic in Prague, his first in 318 days. The midfielder has been sidelined by Rodri's presence in the national team setup, but with the 2024 Balón d'Or winner injured, Zubimendi gets his chance to lead Spain's midfield.

His situation at Arsenal has made this opportunity particularly significant. Once a mainstay under Mikel Arteta, playing 87.9% of minutes last season, Zubimendi has fallen to the bench this term with just 100 Premier League minutes (11% of available).

Most of his playing time has come in the Carabao Cup, including an unexpected outing as right-back against Ipswich. The contrast is stark: 3,002 minutes last season versus 380 this.

Former Spain manager Luis de la Fuente has maintained regular contact with Zubimendi to reassure him of his continued faith. De la Fuente has previously called him "the second-best defensive midfielder in the world" after Rodri.

Zubimendi's previous Spain start came against Croatia in November, and his most memorable contribution came in the World Cup final, when he entered for the final 21 minutes as Rodri tired—Spain won with goals from Oyarzabal and Ferran Torres after he came on.