Mikel Arteta called out over treatment of Arsenal star by Rio Ferdinand

Rio Ferdinand believes it will be hard for Mikel Arteta to not play Myles Lewis-Skelly in most of Arsenal's remaining games this season after questioning the Spaniard's "baffling" treatment of the youngster. Lewis-Skelly enjoyed a breakthrough campaign for Arsenal last term, making 39 appearances, mostly at left-back. But there has been a dearth of action for the 19-year-old, a midfielder by trade, this season, with Saturday's start in the 3-0 win over Fulham just his third in the Premier League. Deployed in his preferred midfield role, Lewis-Skelly impressed against Fulham and Ferdinand thinks he has a strong chance of retaining his place in the team for Arsenal's final fixtures. But the former Manchester United and England defender cannot understand why he has been overlooked by Arteta. "I just thought how is he not getting more game-time?" Ferdinand said on the latest episode of Rio Ferdinand Presents when he was asked for his thoughts on Lewis-Skelly's lack of action. "I just think the energy he brings to the Arsenal team, the aggression, he got out to players. I’ve been baffled that he hasn’t played more football for Arsenal. "If you think about what he did last season, he was arguably the best young player in the Premier League . What’s he done wrong not to play?" With Lewis-Skelly well down the pecking order at left-back this season, the Hale End graduate has been touted as a player Arsenal could sell this summer in order to finance further incomings. Manchester United have even been linked with a shock move for the teenager, who could still be in with a shot of heading to the World Cup with England this summer. Ferdinand continued: "Listen, if Arsenal win the league then obviously Mikel Arteta is right but even talking just selfishly you want young English players playing and he showed he can play last season. "He can play in multiple positions as well, he can play left back or in midfield where he played growing up. "Martin Zubimendi has looked a bit tired and leggy at times and Lewis-Skelly just injected that right amount of spark and energy that Arsenal needed. "It’s difficult to imagine him not playing most of the games until the end of the season now." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us - and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're cu rious, you can read our Privacy Notice .