Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Merino made it to the semi-finals of the English League Cup this Tuesday with the … Arsenal against Crystal Palace. They did it in the penalty shootout, after eight shots by each team. The San Sebastian native, a regular starter throughout the season, did not play and the Navarrese player was captain and scored the fifth maximum penalty of the shootout.
Added to the joy of reaching the semi-finals, where Chelsea awaits in another London derby, was the visit of two friends and former Real Sociedad teammates. Ander Guevara and Jon Pacheco, both Alavés players this season although the Elizondo player will return to Zubieta on loan in the summer, made a getaway to London with their partners to spend Christmas and did not hesitate to go see their two friends at the Emirates.
Guevara, Zubimendi, Pacheco and Merino shared several seasons in the Real first team and all four were part of the Cup champion team in La Cartuja in 2021. The fate of football has separated them but this Christmas reunion is proof that in the Real locker room they become good friends.
At a good level
The four footballers are in one of the best moments of their careers. Merino and Zubimendi lead the Premier League with Arsenal. The Navarrese is not an undisputed starter but his ability to adapt to the center forward position since last season makes him capital at Arsenal. He will close 2025 with 30 goal participations. Zubimendi, on the other hand, has not needed an adaptation period in England and has already become one of the best players in the Premier League.
Guevara and Pacheco are not doing badly at Alavés either. The man from Gasteiz left Real to return to his hometown team in search of minutes and is one of the captains of the Babazorro team. The center-back looked for the same situation in the summer, when in a conversation with Sergio Francisco they decided that the best thing was to go out for a year and play a lot of minutes. Pacheco has regained his smile and confidence with Coudet and will return in the summer after a very complete season and presenting his credentials to be part of Real’s starting defense.
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