Martin Zubimendi wants to see the whole of London dressed in red if Arsenal finish the season with the Premier League title. The midfielder said he is dreaming of helping the club win the championship for the first time in 22 years as Arsenal prepared to face Burnley on Monday night.
Arsenal are three wins from an historic double, with three games left that will shape the history of the club. If they beat already relegated Burnley and Manchester City fail to win at Bournemouth, they could be crowned champions on Tuesday.
Zubimendi said Arsenal are close to doing something big and that the squad is looking forward to the chance to celebrate a possible feat. “We are looking forward to it, because in the end it has been a very long season and, well, we see that we are close, that we can do something big and we are looking forward to it and to be able to celebrate a possible feat,” he said.
The Spain midfielder, whose comments were highlighted in a report on Zubimendi backs Arsenal parade hopes as title chase reaches its climax, said the moment would mean most to supporters if Arsenal finish the job. “If we can do it then it is going to be an important moment for the fans. Hopefully, London will be dressed in red and I think that because of everything I've experienced this year, I want to think it's going to be a unique day,” he said.
Arsenal have not lifted the league title in 22 years, and the run-in offers a rare chance to change that. Burnley are already relegated, but Arsenal also have Crystal Palace on the final day of the season and then the Champions League final against Paris Saint Germain in Budapest on May 30, leaving them on the edge of a season-defining stretch.
Zubimendi said the scale of the opportunity is obvious inside the dressing room, even if the club have not yet crossed the line. “It would be incredible. It's true that we haven't felt [not winning the league] as much as the fans and the [other] players who have felt it over the years with that desire to win this title,” he said.
For all the talk of celebrations, he stressed that Arsenal cannot depend on anyone else. “We are very clear that to win everything we have to do our job. We depend on ourselves, so I don’t think we care what the others do. We are focused on ourselves,” he said.
That leaves Arsenal with a simple equation and a short deadline. Win their own games, and Tuesday could bring a title; fail, and the chance to turn London red slips away, no matter how loudly the parade talk grows.
