Arsenal are adopting a strategy of "preventative maintenance" to ensure their season

As the Premier League enters its most grueling stretch, Arsenal are adopting a strategy of "preventative maintenance" to ensure their season doesn't derail during the winter grind. At the center of this meticulous planning is Martin Zubimendi, the Spanish metronome who has become indispensable to Mikel Arteta’s tactical blueprint.

For Zubimendi, this December represents a significant physiological shift. Having spent his career at Real Sociedad, he is accustomed to the traditional La Liga winter break—a period for mental and physical recalibration. In England, that luxury is replaced by a relentless gauntlet of seven matches in 22 days.

The stats highlight why Arsenal are being so protective: only Declan Rice has logged more Premier League minutes for the Gunners this season. Having started every league game and nearly every Champions League fixture, Zubimendi is the team's primary engine. Arsenal’s decision to have him train away from the main group this week is not a sign of "fragility," but rather a sophisticated effort to avoid the "red zone" of muscular fatigue.

While Zubimendi’s workload is managed, the Carrington medical room remains busy. Kai Havertz has provided a glimmer of hope by returning to individual grass work, though he remains a doubt for full-contact training. More concerning for the North London faithful is the absence of the defensive trio—Ben White, Gabriel, and Christhian Mosquera—from recent sessions.

However, the "Arteta Chessboard" receives a vital piece back this weekend for the trip to Everton. The return of Riccardo Calafiori from suspension offers much-needed tactical flexibility, potentially allowing the Gunners to mask any defensive absences with his aggressive, front-footed style of play.

Starting Saturday, Arsenal’s ambitions will be tested across three competitions. The schedule features a high-stakes Carabao Cup quarter-final against Crystal Palace on December 23 and an FA Cup clash at Portsmouth in January.

In this environment, "absence" from training is often the ultimate sign of foresight. By prioritizing recovery now, Arteta is betting that a refreshed Zubimendi will be the difference-maker when the title race intensifies in the new year.