{"id":329614,"date":"2026-05-05T15:56:37","date_gmt":"2026-05-05T10:26:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/?p=329614"},"modified":"2026-05-05T15:56:37","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T10:26:37","slug":"rio-ferdinand-baffled-by-mikel-artetas-treatment-of-arsenal-star-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/2026\/05\/05\/rio-ferdinand-baffled-by-mikel-artetas-treatment-of-arsenal-star-football\/","title":{"rendered":"Rio Ferdinand ‘baffled’ by Mikel Arteta’s treatment of Arsenal star | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Man Utd legend and ex-England defender Rio Ferdinand (Picture: YouTube)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Rio Ferdinand says he has been \u2018baffled\u2019 by Mikel Arteta\u2019s treatment of Arsenal star Myles Lewis-Skelly this season.<\/p>\n

Lewis-Skelly, 19, made just his third Premier League start of the season in Arsenal\u2019s 3-0 win over Fulham on Saturday.<\/p>\n

The England international was expected to be one in all the important thing members of Arteta\u2019s squad initially of the campaign after having fun with a breakthrough last yr and signing a brand new long-term contract in the summertime.<\/p>\n

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 within the Champions League.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s Morgan Rogers.<\/p>\n

Lewis-Skelly\u2019s lack of game-time this season has even led to speculation over his long-term future at Arsenal amid reported interest from Manchester United.<\/p>\n

Old Trafford icon Ferdinand admits he has been surprised by Lewis-Skelly\u2019s frustrating campaign and says he was impressed by his performance against Fulham.<\/p>\n

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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta and Myles Lewis-Skelly (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Asked what he product of Lewis-Skelly on the weekend, Ferdinand \u2013 speaking on his YouTube channel<\/a> \u2013 said: \u2018I just thought how is he not getting more game-time?<\/p>\n

\u2018I just think the energy he brings to the Arsenal team, the aggression, he got out to players.\u00a0I\u2019ve\u00a0been baffled\u00a0that he\u00a0hasn\u2019t\u00a0played\u00a0more football\u00a0for Arsenal.<\/p>\n

\u2018In case you take into consideration what he did last season, he was\u00a0arguably the\u00a0best young player within the Premier League.\u00a0What\u2019s\u00a0he done\u00a0improper\u00a0to not play?<\/p>\n

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Lewis-Skelly will now hope for more opportunities (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018Listen, if Arsenal win the\u00a0league\u00a0then obviously Mikel Arteta is correct but even talking just selfishly you would like young English players playing and he showed he can play last season.<\/p>\n

\u2018He can play in multiple positions as\u00a0well,\u00a0he can play left back or in midfield where he played growing up.<\/p>\n

\u2018Martin Zubimendi has looked\u00a0a bit drained and leggy at\u00a0times\u00a0and Lewis-Skelly just injected that correct amount of spark and energy that Arsenal needed.<\/p>\n

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\u2018It\u2019s\u00a0difficult to assume him not playing many of the games until the tip of the season now.\u2019<\/p>\n

It was reported last month that Arsenal would only consider selling Lewis-Skelly for an \u2018absolutely crazy\u2019 transfer fee.<\/p>\n

Lewis-Skelly, meanwhile, was said to be keeping his options open with regard to a summer transfer after slipping down Arteta\u2019s pecking order.<\/p>\n

More involvement between now and the tip of the season could dismiss any suggestions of a summer move, nevertheless, with Arsenal closing in on the Premier League title and competing for the Champions League.<\/p>\n

Arsenal\u2019s routine win over London rivals Fulham put them six points clear of Manchester City and Pep Guardiola\u2019s side were only in a position to cut that lead by one as they drew 3-3 with Everton on Monday night.<\/p>\n

In addition to competing for his or her first league title since 2004, Arsenal are also aiming to succeed in the Champions League final ahead of the second leg of their semi-final tie against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

Little separated the Premier League and La Liga teams in the primary leg in Madrid, with Julian Alvarez\u2019s penalty cancelling out Viktor Gyokeres\u2019 spot-kick in a hard-fought 1-1 draw.<\/p>\n

For more stories like this,\u00a0check our sport page<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Arrow<\/title>\n<\/use><\/svg>MORE: Peter Schmeichel names Arsenal star as player of the season \u2013 Freddie Ljungberg disagrees<\/span><\/p>\n

Arrow<\/title>\n<\/use><\/svg>MORE: Man City fan caught with Arsenal bottle in his pocket during Everton draw<\/span><\/p>\n

Arrow<\/title>\n<\/use><\/svg>MORE: Wayne Rooney makes Arsenal prediction after Man City draw with Everton<\/span><\/p>\n

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