Manchester United icon Rio Ferdinand has expressed his confusion regarding Mikel Arteta’s decision to omit Myles Lewis-Skelly from the starting lineup, suggesting the young defender must have “done something wrong” to be sidelined.
Despite trailing 1-0, the Gunners mounted a comeback, securing a 2-1 win and narrowing the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool to just two points. Arsenal capitalised on Liverpool’s dropped points following their draw with Crystal Palace.
Late in the match, an 84th-minute header from Mikel Merino equalised the score for Arsenal, and Gabriel Magalhaes clinched victory with a goal deep into injury time. Even with such a result, Ferdinand was puzzled by Arteta’s choice to replace Lewis-Skelly with Italian international Riccardo Calafiori.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ferdinand remarked: “The thing I find mad about Arsenal is, what’s Lewis-Skelly done wrong to be benched? He was brought on late against Newcastle. Calafiori is a decent player, don’t get me wrong, but surely something’s got to be amiss for Lewis-Skelly to be out.”
When queried if Calafiori represented a more “complete player” compared to the 19-year-old Lewis-Skelly, Ferdinand responded: “No way. Lewis-Skelly’s ball skills in midfield are superior. I’ve rarely seen him outdone defensively last season despite a couple of red cards. He remains unfazed in high-pressure matches an absolute talent.”
Ferdinand speculated that the preference for Calafiori might be due to his physicality and aerial prowess; however, he asserted that Lewis-Skelly offers defensive capabilities along with exceptional ball handling.
Reflecting on the team’s performance, Arteta stated: “I feel pride. We deserved the win through our play, performance, and competitiveness. We created numerous chances and, even though the win was dramatic, it was merited.”
“This victory was a massive statement, demonstrating our identity against a formidable opponent who are notoriously tough to compete against. We showed consistency and quality, and it’s a step towards our next goal—besting tough competitors on their turf.”
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