Lineker: Arsenal's free-flowing display proves Zubimendi benching was the right call

Arsenal's commanding 3-0 victory over Fulham on Saturday night has sparked fresh debate about Martin Zubimendi's role in the squad, with Gary Lineker suggesting the Gunners functioned more effectively with the £51m summer recruit warming the bench.

Zubimendi's first campaign at the club has drawn considerable criticism in recent weeks, prompting Gary Neville to highlight his prolonged struggles. The midfielder's exclusion from the starting XI against Fulham proved telling, as Arsenal swept to a dominant display that extended their Premier League summit position.

Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Lineker identified Myles Lewis-Skelly's introduction as the catalyst for the side's improved fluency. The young defender, deployed in a midfield role rather than his familiar left-back berth, fundamentally altered Arsenal's tempo and attacking direction.

"There's a real difference between what we've seen recently," Lineker explained. "Zubimendi is a cautious player—a defensive midfielder who tends to recycle possession backwards. Lewis-Skelly came in with a completely different mindset. His instinct is to turn and drive forward immediately."

The tactical shift proved potent. With Lewis-Skelly's positive approach enabling quicker transitions, Arsenal's wide players received the ball in advanced positions. Bukayo Saka benefited particularly, receiving possession in time to isolate defenders. Declan Rice, meanwhile, appeared liberated by the midfield's more progressive nature, allowing him to showcase his ball-carrying strengths rather than defaulting to horizontal distribution.

Despite his youth and relative inexperience at this level, Lewis-Skelly's performance underlined the impact of mentality in midfield construction. His willingness to break lines stood in sharp contrast to the cautious approach that has characterised recent displays.

Mikel Arteta acknowledged his previous severity with the youngster, whose breakthrough season in 2025/26 had earned genuine optimism about his trajectory. A difficult spell thereafter tested his resilience, but Arteta confirmed he'd monitored Lewis-Skelly's training-ground intensity with satisfaction.

"He fully deserves this opportunity," Arteta said. "I've been demanding with him. Last season he had an exceptional campaign when he broke through, then faced some tough moments. He's shown real character, stayed focused, and remained committed to the process. I could see in training that he was ready for this. Today he delivered an incredible performance."

For a side chasing silverware, the tactical flexibility to shift Lewis-Skelly into midfield and unlock a more dynamic attacking shape could prove invaluable down the stretch.