Jamie Carragher reckons Mikel Arteta is behind Martin Zubimendi's decision not to join Liverpool last year.

The Spanish midfielder, who completed his switch to Arsenal this summer, had been on the verge of moving to the Reds in 2024.

He reckons Arteta quietly convinced the player to hold fire for Arsenal, laying the groundwork for a switch to north London well before it materialised.

"I'm convinced now that Arteta stole him from Liverpool," Carragher told the Stick to Football podcast.

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"He'd agreed to come to Liverpool.

Martin Zubimendi now plays for Arsenal.

That's why Zubimendi didn't go to Liverpool

I think Arteta got into him."

Arteta, a native of San Sebastian and former player for Real Sociedad, was reportedly working behind the scenes with his old club to secure Zubimendi for a hefty £55M ($74.4M) in late 2024.

The transfer was finalized in July, with the Spanish midfielder now set to join forces with Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard in what could be a formidable Arsenal midfield.

Liverpool's failure to secure Zubimendi was a significant blow during a relatively quiet summer transfer window last year

Despite this setback, Liverpool, under the guidance of Arne Slot, clinched its 20th Premier League title, finishing a comfortable 10 points ahead of Arsenal.

This season, Arteta and Zubimendi are determined to narrow that gap
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