Arsenal midfielder Miles Lewis-Skelly has named Mateus Fernandes as the toughest opponent he has come up against. The Englishman was keen to specify that he was referring to Fernandes’ time at West Ham, as he now plays for the Gunners’ arch-rivals, Tottenham Hotspur.
When asked about the most challenging opponent in his career, Lewis-Skelly answered without hesitation:
Mateus Fernandes, when he was at West Ham.
Having navigated a difficult previous season, Lewis-Skelly has re-established himself in Arsenal's starting XI. He has started four out of five matches this campaign and has even made his return to the England national team.
The player admitted:
It was tough. The path is never straightforward, especially at a club like Arsenal. Everyone wants to play, and chances aren’t guaranteed. But I needed to go through that phase to understand myself better, figure out what I can offer the team, and work on the fundamentals.
Initially breaking into the first team as a left-back, Lewis-Skelly is now finding himself increasingly deployed in midfield. Competition has intensified even more following the summer signing of Bruno Guimaraes.
Lewis-Skelly remarked:
Bruno brings energy, experience, and intensity. When I found out he was joining us, I was over the moon because there’s so much to learn from a player like him. I need to soak up everything I can from Bruno.
Meanwhile, Fernandes is facing a rocky start to his Tottenham career. Over the summer, Spurs splashed out £85 million to sign the Portuguese from West Ham, but the team has yet to register a win with him in the lineup.
In a recent match against Aston Villa, which ended 2-3, manager Roberto De Zerbi substituted the midfielder at half-time.
