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

Arsenal’s promising young player Myles Lewis-Skelly has identified Tottenham Hotspur's Mateus Fernandes as the most challenging opponent he has faced in the Premier League. The 19-year-old, who has quickly established himself under manager Mikel Arteta, chose a lesser-known rival over some of the league’s biggest stars.

A Remarkable Rise and a Unique Choice

Just shy of his 20th birthday, Lewis-Skelly already holds an impressive track record: a Premier League winner’s medal, a start in a Champions League final, 81 senior appearances, and six England caps. His experience spans multiple roles across defense and midfield, putting him up against some of football’s elite.

Despite having the option to mention world-renowned attackers or central midfielders, he singled out Fernandes because of their duels during Fernandes’ brief time at West Ham United.

High Praise for Fernandes’ Ability

During a recent chat on the Men In Blazers podcast, Lewis-Skelly was asked to name his toughest top-flight competitor. Without hesitation, he said, "Mateus Fernandes, when he was at West Ham."

The Arsenal starlet also spoke about the arrival of Brazil international Bruno Guimaraes at the Emirates Stadium, praising his new teammate’s quality and leadership.

"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, he plays a similar position, so you can always learn from him. Being a sponge to Bruno is going to be really impactful."

Fernandes’ Rough Start at Tottenham

Although Lewis-Skelly respects Fernandes highly, the midfielder has struggled since moving to the Premier League. After consecutive relegations with Southampton and West Ham, Fernandes made a high-profile £85 million transfer to Tottenham in the summer of 2026.

His debut season under coach Roberto De Zerbi has been difficult. In a recent 3-2 loss to Aston Villa, Fernandes was substituted at half-time after a disappointing showing, replaced by Mohammed Kudus. De Zerbi defended the decision but stressed that more is expected from the expensive signing.

"I have big confidence in Mateus, but I didn’t like the performance today. Otherwise I couldn’t change," De Zerbi said. "He knows. It’s not an attack on Mateus, I love Mateus, it’s not a problem. But I think we need more from him because he can deliver, even in that position."

Challenges and Ambitions for Lewis-Skelly

With Guimaraes now part of the squad, competition for midfield spots at Arsenal will intensify. Despite shining at left-back during his breakthrough season, Lewis-Skelly sees himself primarily as a midfielder and aims to soak up knowledge from his experienced teammates to secure a regular role there.

"I’m a midfielder. But at the end of the day, it’s all about what the team needs. No player is bigger than the team goal. Whatever helps the team, I’ll do it."