Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly Names Unexpected Tottenham Rival as Toughest Premier League Opponent

Myles Lewis-Skelly, the young Arsenal talent, recently revealed that Mateus Fernandes, currently at Tottenham Hotspur, is the toughest opponent he has faced in the Premier League. This came as a surprise since the 19-year-old could have mentioned some of the league's well-known stars but instead singled out Fernandes, who had a brief period at West Ham.

Rising Star with Big Experiences

Approaching his 20th birthday, Lewis-Skelly has already achieved significant milestones including a Premier League winner's medal and a start in a Champions League final. With 81 senior appearances and six England caps to his name, he has faced top players while playing in defensive and midfield roles.

Despite being surrounded by high-profile names, he chose to highlight Fernandes based on their encounters when Fernandes was playing for West Ham.

High Praise During Podcast

On the Men In Blazers podcast, the Arsenal youngster did not hesitate to name Fernandes as his toughest adversary. He specifically referenced the battles they had during Fernandes’ time in east London.

"Mateus Fernandes, when he was at West Ham," Lewis-Skelly said without hesitation.

He also spoke about the recent signing of Bruno Guimaraes at Arsenal, expressing excitement to learn from the Brazilian international.

"Bruno brings energy, experience, intensity," Lewis-Skelly said. "When I heard he was joining, I was super happy because it’s someone to learn from and pick the brain of. He’s another winner, someone who plays a similar position, so you can always learn from him. Being a sponge to Bruno is going to be really impactful."

Fernandes' Difficult Time at Tottenham

Fernandes’ transition to English football has been rocky since moving from Sporting CP in 2024. After suffering relegations with Southampton and West Ham, he transferred to Tottenham for £85 million in the summer. However, his start under manager Roberto De Zerbi has been challenging.

During a recent 3-2 loss to Aston Villa, Fernandes was substituted at halftime for Mohammed Kudus after a disappointing performance. De Zerbi defended the decision but stressed he expects more from Fernandes.

"I have big confidence in Mateus, but I didn’t like his performance today," De Zerbi stated. "He knows. It’s normal. It’s not an attack on Mateus, I love Mateus, but we need more from him. Because he can, even in that position."

Looking Ahead at Arsenal

With Guimaraes joining Arsenal, Lewis-Skelly faces strong competition for game time. Though he impressed as a left-back last season, he considers himself primarily a midfielder and aims to learn as much as possible from experienced teammates to secure a central role.

His flexibility remains valuable for Mikel Arteta’s squad chasing titles. The teenager emphasized his team-first attitude.

"I’m a midfielder, but at the end of the day it’s all down to the team needs. No player, no individual is bigger than the team goal. Whatever helps the team, I’ll do it."