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While Manchester United have made a mess of midfield signings over the years, Arsenal have mastered their transfer strategy.

And that's become even more evident this season, with Martin Zubimendi quietly staking a claim for signing of the season after another Mikel Arteta masterstroke.

For United, though, Casemiro is a shining example of their flaws, and the Brazilian will bring an end to his unsuccessful stint in the Premier League at the end of the campaign.

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The No.6 role, initially with Thomas Partey, and now Zubimendi, has been an integral reason behind the Gunners' rise up the table.

It took more than a decade, but Arteta recognised that the engine room of Arsenal's golden-era midfield, Patrick Vieira and Gilberto Silva, was never replaced.

Partey was one of Arteta's first permanent signings, with Jorginho coming in soon after. Zubimendi, however, has taken the role to another level for the Gunners, while the Arsenal boss has done the same with the former Real Sociedad talisman.

Alvaro Romeo, the Spanish editor for The Coaches' Voice, detailed both why Arsenal decided to sign the Spaniard and where he has since improved under Mikel Arteta.

"He has improved a lot over the last two years. His scoring numbers are getting better," Romeo said.

"His leadership is becoming more apparent. Arteta and Spain boss Luis de la Fuente have also contributed to this, giving Zubimendi trust, responsibilities and freedom to get near the box. It’s been a gradual process."

He added, “Now Zubimendi is much better than 12 months ago. He also competes in a very strong league.

“Zubimendi is the proof that looking physical is not a must to be a top defensive midfielder.

"He may not be the tallest or the most vocal, but his reading of the game, his positioning, unspoken strength and his capacity to improve have put him up there with the best defensive midfielders in the world."

Zubimendi says Arteta has given him plenty of advice since his move; however, he talks of learning partnerships which have truly taken him up a level.

"There are many, but I think the fact of getting to know the players you play with well," he said.

"Because it is not the same to play with a side of some characteristics than with others. Those mini-links you have with those players make you know them better, know what they want and create those links."

Declan Rice has become the main teammate in midfield, and Zubimendi has outlined one aspect in the squad that he believes will be key against Manchester United.

"We have a good dynamic, we are a team that at home is showing solidity, and it will be a good match," he said.

No matter what happens against United, the gap Arsenal have opened guarantees they will be top of the table come the end of the latest game week.

The 26-year-old believes that the secret into how Arsenal have come to be where they are this season cannot be pinned to just one thing.

"I think the secret is in the day-to-day here. Beyond the dressing room, what we work on at the level of video, tactics, strategy, on the field, that makes us all go in the same direction," he said.

"It is also part of the schedule in the dressing room, but we take it very normally. Knowing that everything is fine, we haven't done everything yet."

Compare Arsenal's work in central midfield, where Zubimendi finds himself the anchor, to their old rivals United, and as is the case with the teams' contrasting fortunes, the quality on show couldn't be more different.

Ander Herrera and Nemanja Matic are really the only ones seen as successful acquisitions in this area since Sir Alex Ferguson's departure.

Morgan Schneiderlin and Bastian Schweinsteiger failed to improve the United midfield. Fred was well thought of and improved under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but the jury remained out for much of his tenure.

More recently, big spends on Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte have again failed to have the desired impact in an imbalanced midfield.

Bruno Fernandes has become one of the biggest wastes of talent the Premier League has ever seen, being played persistently out of position. Something of the sequel to how Paul Pogba was also used in every position possible.

Fernandes could have become one of the best No.10s the league has ever seen and produces across many campaigns, but the adverse effects of United’s poor transfer decisions has seen the Portuguese midfielder take the fall.

Arsenal's midfield, built meticulously and smartly, speaks for itself. The likes of Rice have grown into superstars with everything in its proper place – Zubimendi is the next on the list, with even Rodri set to be ousted from the national team.