Lewis-Skelly names £85m Tottenham star as toughest opponent yet

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Myles Lewis-Skelly has picked out Tottenham's £85million summer signing Mateus Fernandes as the toughest opponent he has faced in the Premier League.

The 19-year-old was asked to name the player who has given him the most trouble in the English top flight, and he did not hesitate.

"Matheus Fernandes, when he was at West Ham," Lewis-Skelly said in an interview with Men in Blazers, as reported by the Evening Standard.

The two met in the closing weeks of last season, when Lewis-Skelly played the full 90 minutes of Arsenal's 1-0 win over West Ham — a result that kept the Gunners in control of the title race, and one that was only secured after a late VAR call ruled out what the hosts believed was a stoppage-time equaliser.

Fernandes has since moved across London, joining Spurs in an £85million deal over the summer.

A breakthrough season for Lewis-Skelly

Lewis-Skelly's endorsement carries weight given how much football he is now playing in midfield. Having earned Mikel Arteta's trust in the final stretch of last season, he started every one of Arsenal's pre-season fixtures and then the opening four Premier League games, all of which the Gunners won.

The run ended at Brighton, where he dropped to the bench and Arsenal were beaten 3-0. That result leaves Arteta with a genuine selection question to answer coming out of the international break.

The competition in that area of the pitch is fierce. Lewis-Skelly is now battling Bruno Guimaraes for the role alongside Declan Rice, with the 28-year-old Brazilian arriving as one of the club's headline additions.

Learning from Guimaraes

Rather than viewing the new arrival as a roadblock, Lewis-Skelly framed it as an opportunity.

"Bruno brings energy, experience, intensity," he said. "When I heard he was joining I was super happy because it's someone to learn from and pick the brain of."

He added: "He's another winner, he's someone who plays in a similar position to you, so you can always learn from him. Being a sponge to Bruno is going to be really impactful."

That attitude is likely to be tested over the coming months. Guimaraes' arrival, combined with Rice's guaranteed starting spot, means minutes in the Arsenal engine room will be at a premium, and the Brighton defeat showed that Arteta is willing to shuffle his midfield when he sees fit.

For a teenager who was operating at left-back not long ago, the transition into a central role has been rapid. Lewis-Skelly's ability to hold off Guimaraes — or at least share the load — will be one of the more intriguing subplots of Arsenal's campaign.

A reunion with Fernandes, this time in north London derby colours, is also now on the calendar. Lewis-Skelly has already made clear what he thinks of the Portuguese midfielder's level, and he will get the chance to test himself against him again this season.