Martin Zubimendi makes thinly veiled Liverpool dig in first interview as an Arsenal player

Martin Zubimendi appeared to aim a thinly veiled dig at Liverpool after Arsenal confirmed his transfer to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. The Spain midfielder looked set to join Liverpool last summer and was even apparently pictured in a Reds shirt before pulling the plug on the move at the 11th hour.

Liverpool were keen to make Zubimendi one of their first signings of the Arne Slot era after the Dutchman replaced Jurgen Klopp in the Anfield dugout. But just before the transfer was completed, Zubimendi reportedly had his head turned after Arsenal chiefs contacted the player's camp to inform them of their interest.

Arsenal reached a complete agreement to sign Zubimendi at the end of May after deciding to meet his £51million release clause.

And after the club officially announced his arrival in north London, the player acknowledged that his transfer to Arsenal was the one he was ultimately after due to their style of play.

"This is a huge moment in my career," he told the Arsenal website. "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."

Zubimendi is expected to become a regular starter in the Arsenal midfield and will be aiming to take the club to the next level after they missed out on a place in the Champions League final last season following a two-legged defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals.

The 26-year-old will be hoping to make his Premier League debut when Arsenal travel to Manchester United on the opening weekend of the new campaign in mid-August.

He could then run out at the Emirates for the first time in a league match when the Gunners host Leeds six days later.

And Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta added: "Martin is a player who will bring a huge amount of quality and football intelligence to our team.

"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."