Rio Ferdinand says he ‘can’t believe’ Mikel Arteta has dropped Myles Lewis-Skelly following his impressive breakout season at Arsenal.
Lewis-Skelly only made his Arsenal debut last September but ended the 2024-25 campaign as one of the most important players in Arteta’s squad.
The 19-year-old, who can play as a left-back or in midfield, helped Arsenal challenge for the Premier League title and reach the semi-finals of the Champions League.
His performances in the quarter-final victory over Real Madrid were particularly impressive, with Jamie Carragher comparing the teenager to Wayne Rooney after the first leg.
Carragher and fellow pundit Gary Neville both named Lewis-Skelly as their Young Player of the Season following his exploits in north London, which culminated in his first England appearance in March.
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Lewis-Skelly would have been hoping to build on his sensational breakout season this term but is yet to start any of Arsenal’s six league games.
Riccardo Calafiori has been preferred in the left-back position, with Lewis-Skelly’s four league appearances so far this season coming from the bench.
Ferdinand ‘can’t believe’ Lewis-Skelly is struggling for game-time at Arsenal and has questioned Arteta’s treatment of the young England star.
‘Do you know the thing I find mad about Arsenal?’ Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel. ‘What’s Lewis-Skelly done? What he’s done?
‘He came on [as an 88th-minute substitute] late yesterday [in the 2-1 win over Newcastle United]. Listen, the replacement is an Italian international [Calafiori] and a good player, don’t get me wrong. I like him.
‘But sometimes you have to do something wrong to get out of the team, surely? Or has Lewis-Skelly just played a lot of football as a young kid so they’re giving him a breather? I would love to know what’s happened.’
Asked if Calafiori was a more ‘complete player’ than Lewis-Skelly at this early stage of his career, Ferdinand added: ‘No way. No way.
‘Lewis-Skelly is better on the ball in midfield and I didn’t see him get beat defensively last season except when he got a couple of red cards.
‘I watched him in big games last season and he looked so unfazed, it was a joke. I can’t believe he’s not in the team.
‘It’s probably because Calafiori is bigger and better defensively in the air. But Lewis-Skelly can defend too but also looks great on the ball.’
Lewis-Skelly’s latest cameo came in the dying minutes of Arsenal’s thrilling comeback victory over Newcastle United at St James’ Park.
A first-half header from club-record signing Nick Woltemade put Newcastle in front but Arsenal scored twice in the final ten minutes to clinch a huge victory.
Mikel Merino came off the bench to glance home an equaliser before Gabriel’s injury-time header completed Arsenal’s late and impressive comeback.
The dramatic victory leaves Arsenal second in the Premier League after six games, two points behind defending champions and early pacesetters Liverpool.
Speaking after the win, Arteta said: ‘I feel pride. I think we fully deserved the win after the way we played, performed and competed.
‘With the chances we generated, we deserved to win even if we did it in a dramatic way.
‘That’s how you get to a different level, by going through those moments and taking lessons from it.
‘It was a massive opportunity to show who we are because they are a terrific team and they are so difficult to play against. The level of consistency and quality we showed was top.
‘We want to achieve the next level and to do that you have to come to these places and you have to win. You have to find a way to do it. It was tremendous.’
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