Rio gobsmacked as Arteta benches Lewis‑Skelly after Arsenal’s gutsy Toon turnaround

Arsenal’s comeback spirit is alive and kicking. Gabriel Magalhaes rose when it mattered to nick a 2-1 win over Newcastle, a result that keeps Mikel Arteta’s men tucked in behind Liverpool and very much in the title conversation. Yet while the points were banked, the post‑match chatter belonged to Rio Ferdinand, who simply can’t get his head around Myles Lewis‑Skelly’s reduced role.

Rio’s gripe: why is Lewis‑Skelly on the fringes?

Ferdinand’s view was plain: he can’t see what Lewis‑Skelly has done to find himself watching on. The youngster was limited to a late cameo at the Emirates, and while Riccardo Calafiori is an Italian international with pedigree, Rio’s argument is that you usually lose your spot by making mistakes — and Lewis‑Skelly, in his eyes, hasn’t put a foot seriously wrong.

Pressed on who’s the more rounded option at this stage, Ferdinand sided with the London‑born 19‑year‑old. He reckons Lewis‑Skelly offers superior composure and quality in midfield zones, didn’t see him regularly beaten last term, and pointed to how serenely he handled the white heat of Europe, including that standout showing at the Bernabéu. In short: the kid looked ice‑cold in big moments, so why the bench?

The Lewis‑Skelly conundrum

Context matters. Lewis‑Skelly broke through last season on the left side of the backline and quickly won hearts at the Emirates with his reliability and thrust. But with Calafiori back available and Piero Hincapié arriving in the summer, the ladder is suddenly crowded. Plenty of supporters felt Calafiori laboured against Newcastle and were calling for Lewis‑Skelly to get real minutes going forward.

As it stands, he hasn’t started any of the Gunners’ six league matches, limited to stoppage‑time against the Magpies. That’s a tough pill for a four‑cap England international off a stellar breakout campaign.

Arteta’s pragmatism or progress paused?

The broader picture is rosy. Aside from a narrow August loss to Liverpool, Arsenal have drawn with Manchester City and racked up statement wins — 3-0 over Nottingham Forest, 5-0 against Leeds and 1-0 versus Manchester United. Key stat: Arteta is the first manager to go five straight league games unbeaten against Pep Guardiola’s City. There’s a steely, pragmatic sheen to this Arsenal — and that’s no accident.

Maybe Arteta went for size and aerial clout versus Newcastle’s set‑piece threat, which would explain leaning on Calafiori. But there’s a delicate balance between pragmatism and progression. For those keeping an eye on title narratives and the market moves via our best betting sites, how Arteta rotates that left‑back role could shape Arsenal’s season: Calafiori brings height and defensive presence; Lewis‑Skelly offers slick buildup and press resistance. The smartest title tilts usually find a way to use both profiles at the right time.

Transfers, expectations and the next tests

Big summer outlay raised expectations, with Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyökeres adding layers to a squad already hailed as the league’s deepest. When you’ve finished second three seasons on the spin, the margins get smaller and the selection noise gets louder — especially when a prodigy is sat on the bench.

Olympiacos visit on Wednesday in the Champions League, a perfect stage for Arteta to give Lewis‑Skelly a proper run and keep everyone sharp. Then it’s West Ham at the weekend, a Nuno Espírito Santo side with an edge. Another chance for Arsenal to show that this year, they’ve got the blend of grit and guile — and for Arteta to prove that his man‑management is as astute as his tactics.