Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly Surprises by Naming Tottenham's Mateus Fernandes as Toughest Premier League Rival

Myles Lewis-Skelly, the young Arsenal talent, recently named a current Tottenham Hotspur player as his toughest opponent in the Premier League. The 19-year-old, who has quickly risen under Mikel Arteta, chose a lesser-known rival instead of the league’s top stars.

Rapid Rise and Experience

Close to turning 20, Lewis-Skelly has already earned a Premier League winner’s medal and started in a Champions League final. With 81 senior appearances and six caps for England, he has faced some of the best players worldwide, playing both in defense and midfield.

Despite having many world-class adversaries to choose from, he singled out Mateus Fernandes based on their encounters when Fernandes was at West Ham.

High Regard for Fernandes

On the Men In Blazers podcast, Lewis-Skelly was asked to name the toughest player he has faced. Without hesitation, he said:

"Mateus Fernandes, when he was at West Ham."

He also praised the recent addition to Arsenal, Brazilian international Bruno Guimarães, calling him a valuable presence. Lewis-Skelly said:

"Bruno brings energy, experience, intensity. 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, plays in a similar position, so you can always learn from him. Being a sponge to Bruno is going to be really impactful."

Fernandes' Rocky Time at Spurs

Fernandes has had a difficult time since moving to England from Sporting CP in 2024. After back-to-back relegations with Southampton and West Ham, he moved to Tottenham for £85 million in the summer.

His start with Spurs under Roberto De Zerbi has been tough. During a 3-2 loss to Aston Villa, Fernandes was taken off at half-time after a poor showing. De Zerbi defended his choice but demanded more from the midfielder:

"I have big confidence in Mateus, but I didn’t like his performance today. It’s not an attack on Mateus, I love him. But we need more from Mateus because he can give more, even in that position."

Looking Ahead at Arsenal

With Guimarães now at Arsenal, competition for midfield spots will increase. Lewis-Skelly, who shone at left-back last season, sees himself as a central midfielder and wants to learn as much as possible from experienced teammates to secure a regular role.

His flexibility remains valuable to Arteta’s squad chasing the title. The youngster summed up his approach:

"I’m a midfielder, but it all depends on the team’s needs. No individual is bigger than the team goal. Whatever helps the team, I’ll do it."