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Gary Lineker has explained why he thinks Arsenal were better without summer signing Martin Zubimendi against Fulham on Saturday night.<\/p>\n
Zubimendi<\/strong> was among Arsenal\u2019s signings last summer, and he has been criticised for his performances in recent months.<\/p>\n Gary Neville has argued that he has been \u201cstruggling\u201d for a while<\/strong> and he started on the bench against Fulham at the weekend.<\/p>\n The Gunners<\/strong> were certainly more free-flowing in his absence as Mikel Arteta\u2019s side earned a priceless 3-0 victory over Fulham to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table.<\/strong><\/p>\n Myles Lewis-Skelly impressed in the absence of Zubimendi and Lineker has explained why this change \u201cmade the fundamental difference\u201d for Arsenal against Fulham.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m going to throw something in here because I think there\u2019s a fundamental difference between the Arsenal that we\u2019ve seen in recent weeks,\u201d Linker said on The Rest is Football podcast.<\/p>\n READ: Arsenal 3 Man City 5 in Premier League XI of season so far<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cNo disrespect to Zubimendi, but he\u2019s a cautious player. He\u2019s a defensive midfield player and he predominantly knocks it back.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought Myles Lewis-Skelly came in in a midfield position, not a left-back that\u2019s moving into midfield. His first thought is to turn and look forward and quickly.<\/p>\n \u201cI think that really enabled Arsenal to get it forward quicker. It was a bit of a plan, they pushed the wingers higher. Saka was getting the ball in time to take someone on. I think he made a fundamental difference.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s quite interesting because he\u2019s a young player and we\u2019ve known him as a full-back. But in that midfield area, the way he was so positive and looking forward.<\/p>\n \u201cRice is a different player in the sense that he\u2019s probably at his best when he\u2019s running with the ball. But he\u2019s also a player that tends not to look for forward passes particularly quickly. So I think he really helped them.\u201d<\/p>\n READ MORE: Neville reveals the \u2018horrible\u2019 fixture that could cost Arsenal the Premier League title<\/strong><\/p>\n Lewis-Skelly has barely featured for Arsenal this season after he enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2025\/26, and Arteta has admitted that he has been harsh on the youngster this term.<\/p>\n \u201cHe fully deserves it,\u201d Arteta said about Lewis-Skelly.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been tough on him. He had a spectacular season last year when he jumped into the first team. He had some difficult moments after that, but he stayed very humble, very focused, very aligned with what we wanted to do, and I knew he was ready.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s been showing in training every day the opportunities that he had to play. He\u2019s done it and today he really stepped up and I thought he had an incredible performance.\u201d<\/p>\n READ NEXT:<\/strong> Arteta tipped to brutally axe \u2018incredible\u2019 Arsenal star for crunch Atletico clash<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/div>\nMikel Arteta \u2013 \u201cI\u2019ve been tough on him\u201d<\/h2>\n