Arteta blocks Zubimendi and Hincapie exits as Arsenal fend off European interest

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has blocked potential January departures for both Martin Zubimendi and Piero Hincapie, according to reports from Sport Witness, as the Premier League leaders look to maintain their squad strength across a demanding second half of the season.

Zubimendi, who joined Arsenal last summer in a transfer coup that saw the club beat Liverpool, Real Madrid, and Barcelona to his signature, has found himself fourth in the midfield pecking order following the emergence of Myles Lewis-Skelly and the summer arrival of Bruno Guimarães. Despite limited game time, Arteta is said to be “reluctant” to sanction a sale, with the club believing the Spanish international’s role could grow again as the season progresses. Last term, the Basque midfielder was a near ever-present alongside Declan Rice before fatigue saw him drop to the bench.

Hincapie’s situation is similarly complicated. The Ecuadorian left-back, who joined on loan from Bayer Leverkusen before Arsenal made the deal permanent, has seen his opportunities this season curtailed by injury and the impressive form of Riccardo Calafiori. Reports from Spain suggest Barcelona, dealing with a defensive crisis of their own, have identified Hincapie as a January target — but Arteta has no intention of letting him leave.

The decisions reflect a broader strategic calculation at the Emirates. Arsenal’s summer transfer window left the squad light in attacking areas after Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus, and Leandro Trossard all departed, with only Christos Tzolis arriving as a direct replacement and Eberechi Eze handed more responsibility on the left flank. That relative shortage of attacking options makes protecting depth elsewhere all the more important.

With Arsenal sitting top of the Premier League and well placed in the Champions League, the club’s priority in January is understood to be reinforcement rather than reduction — adding to the squad rather than trimming it for short-term financial gain. Arteta’s willingness to hold firm on both Zubimendi and Hincapie signals that the manager views his current group as capable of competing on multiple fronts, provided it remains intact.