Rio Ferdinand says he has been ‘baffled’ by Mikel Arteta’s treatment of Arsenal star Myles Lewis-Skelly this season.
Lewis-Skelly, 19, made just his third Premier League start of the season in Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Fulham on Saturday.
The England international was expected to be one of the key members of Arteta’s squad at the start of the campaign after enjoying a breakthrough last year and signing a new long-term contract in the summer.
Lewis-Skelly only made his Arsenal debut in September 2024 but ended last season with 39 appearances, helping the Gunners challenge for the Premier League and go deep in the Champions League.
Premier League legends Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher hailed Lewis-Skelly as their Young Player of the Season, though he missed out on the official award to Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers.
Lewis-Skelly’s lack of game-time this season has even led to speculation over his long-term future at Arsenal amid reported interest from Manchester United.
Old Trafford icon Ferdinand admits he has been surprised by Lewis-Skelly’s frustrating campaign and says he was impressed by his performance against Fulham.
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Asked what he made of Lewis-Skelly at the weekend, Ferdinand – speaking on his YouTube channel – said: ‘I just thought how is he not getting more game-time?
‘I just think the energy he brings to the Arsenal team, the aggression, he got out to players. I’ve been baffled that he hasn’t played more football for Arsenal.
‘If you think about what he did last season, he was arguably the best young player in the Premier League. What’s he done wrong not to play?
‘Listen, if Arsenal win the league then obviously Mikel Arteta is right but even talking just selfishly you want young English players playing and he showed he can play last season.
‘He can play in multiple positions as well, he can play left back or in midfield where he played growing up.
‘Martin Zubimendi has looked a bit tired and leggy at times and Lewis-Skelly just injected that right amount of spark and energy that Arsenal needed.
‘It’s difficult to imagine him not playing most of the games until the end of the season now.’
It was reported last month that Arsenal would only consider selling Lewis-Skelly for an ‘absolutely crazy’ transfer fee.
Lewis-Skelly, meanwhile, was said to be keeping his options open in regards to a summer transfer after slipping down Arteta’s pecking order.
More involvement between now and the end of the season could dismiss any suggestions of a summer move, however, with Arsenal closing in on the Premier League title and competing for the Champions League.
Arsenal’s routine win over London rivals Fulham put them six points clear of Manchester City and Pep Guardiola’s side were only able to cut that lead by one as they drew 3-3 with Everton on Monday night.
As well as competing for their first league title since 2004, Arsenal are also aiming to reach the Champions League final ahead of the second leg of their semi-final tie against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.
Little separated the Premier League and La Liga teams in the first leg in Madrid, with Julian Alvarez’s penalty cancelling out Viktor Gyokeres’ spot-kick in a hard-fought 1-1 draw.
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