Ferdinand Puzzled as Arteta Finally Unleashes Lewis-Skelly in Midfield

Rio Ferdinand has left scratching his head over Mikel Arteta's handling of Arsenal youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly, questioning why the teenage prospect has been starved of opportunities for much of the campaign.

The Gunners bounced back from a patchy run of form with a commanding 3-0 victory against Fulham over the weekend, a performance that proved crucial as Manchester City stumbled to a 3-3 draw with Everton on Monday. Arsenal have seized control of the Premier League title chase as a result.

Lewis-Skelly made his maiden appearance in his natural central midfield berth against Fulham, with Martin Zubimendi rested after appearing jaded during recent weeks. The Spanish midfielder, in his first Premier League campaign following his Real Sociedad switch, is expected to return for Arsenal's Champions League semi-final second leg.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ferdinand voiced his frustration at Lewis-Skelly's relative absence this term, particularly given the teenager's stellar breakthrough in 2024/25. "I just thought how is he not getting more game-time?" Ferdinand pondered. "The energy he brings, the aggression—I've been genuinely baffled he hasn't featured more."

He continued: "Last season he was arguably the Premier League's finest young talent. What's he done to deserve this treatment? If Arsenal claim the title, fair play to Arteta, but you want to see English youngsters getting chances. He showed last year he can cut it, and he's versatile too—left-back or midfield."

Ferdinand highlighted how Lewis-Skelly's introduction provided precisely what Arsenal needed. "Zubimendi's looked leggy at times," he noted. "Lewis-Skelly brought that spark and intensity Arsenal were missing. It's hard to imagine him warming the bench much from here on."

The 19-year-old has managed just three Premier League starts this campaign, yet remains appreciative of Arteta's confidence. "I'm grateful to the boss," Lewis-Skelly told Sky Sports. "That shows our connection is strong. Inside I was buzzing—I was just delighted he trusted me to play midfield."

Arteta acknowledged adopting a stern approach with Lewis-Skelly but praised the youngster's composure and response. "He had a spectacular breakthrough last year, but experienced some tough moments after," the Arsenal manager explained. "He remained humble, focused, and aligned with our approach. I knew he was prepared, and he's shown in training whenever given the chance."

Pressed on the delay in deploying Lewis-Skelly in midfield, Arteta offered candour: "Probably I don't have a clue, and maybe I should have done it sooner. But I only make changes when I believe the player is ready, the team is ready, and the opposition suits the situation."

He added: "Today was the first time. It was a calculated risk—if he'd struggled, we'd have lost. How do you throw a teenager of his age into this scenario, in a position he hasn't occupied all season? But I had a feeling it was the right match for him."