'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The summer of 2018 was overwhelming for everyone associated with Arsenal Football Club. Arsene Wenger had decided to step down after more than two decades at the helm, having overseen the most successful era in the history of the club and creating a brand of football that was envied across Europe.
Unai Emery, who had been without a job after parting ways with Paris Saint Germain, was the chosen one to succeed the legendary Frenchman and he wasted no time in attempting to stamp his authority at the club. Working in tandem with Sven Mislintat, one of world football’s biggest talent spotters, the North London club made five signings out of which 19-year-old Matteo Guendouzi was one.
The young Frenchman was an unknown commodity who was plying his trade with Lorient in the second division of French Football and it was expected that the step up to the Premier League would be too big a jump for him but he’s adapted seamlessly to English football and become one of Emery’s most trusted lieutenants.
The pre-season tour is vital for any player trying to stake his claim for a starting position in the league, even more so with a new manager at the helm and Guendouzi did just that, with assured performances against the likes of Atletico Madrid, Paris Saint Germain, Chelsea and Lazio.
He was rewarded with a start for the Premier League opener against reigning champions Manchester City and despite the 3-1 loss, the Frenchman did his reputation no harm.
Manchester City were dominant for large parts of the game and although he made errors you’d expect from any youngster adapting to a new league, he showed flashes of brilliance and his numbers make for impressive reading. He won four out of six tackles contested and made four interceptions, a joint second in the Arsenal team. In isolation, these stats don’t exactly set the world on. fire but keeping in mind that Guendouzi is not an out-and-out defensive midfielder by trade, it’s commendable to say the least.
In recent weeks, fans have been torn on Guendouzi’s value to the side but he continues to be one of the mainstays in Arsenal’s midfield, which is a massive show of faith from manager Unai Emery. Six months from his debut, he was chosen at the centre of the park again in the reverse fixture against Manchester City, this time alongside fellow new signing Lucas Torreira.
Arsenal once again ended up on the losing side but young Guendouzi continued to enhance his burgeoning reputation and was the best player Arsenal player on the pitch by a fair distance.
His teammates put him in a spot of bother on numerous occasions but he managed to get himself out of tricky situations with ease and was the key player in the first half as the North London side went toe to toe against arguably the best midfield in world football.
He had 70 touches, the most of any Arsenal player and showed composure way beyond his years.
Despite ending up on the losing side, Emery took time to look at the positives and singled out Guendouzi for special praise in his post-match press conference.
Emery said "I’m very happy with Guendouzi’s performance today. With the result, it’s not easy to say that, but there are some positives that we can look at from our players today”. Even in a tough away outing at the Etihad, Guendouzi managed to earn a seal of approval from his gaffer and was widely acknowledged by the Arsenal faithful as the best player on the pitch, a mammoth achievement for someone so young.
There had been questions marks regarding his attitude as stories emerged of Guendouzi falling out with former Lorient manager Bernard Casoni. In a Cup game against Nice on the 8th of January, 2017, he was booked early on but the youngster did not shy away from any challenge and continued his natural game.
He was withdrawn with fifty-five minutes on the clock as the manager did not want to risk his team going down to ten men and this did not go well with the 17-year-old as he stormed off the pitch after refusing to shake hands with his manager.
He only made one further appearance that season but former Lorient vice president rubbished claims that Guendouzi had an attitude problem.
“He believes so much in himself that he is outraged with anyone who doesn’t place him on the same pedestal that he believes he should be placed on. He is not a bad kid, he’s not nasty, he’s just got an innate, deep belief in himself.”
Guendouzi’s influence on this Arsenal side continues to grow rapidly. He never shies away from a challenge and does not hesitate to have a go at his teammates, if need be. The talent is there for everyone to see but something that does not get talked about is his mentality. Players tend to hide when certain games aren’t going as per plan but not Matteo Guendouzi, no way in hell.
“I did not change. I’ve always stayed the same, I’ve always been myself and I’m not going to change,” Guendouzi said. “I’m still young, I’m only 19 years old so I still have things to learn. But that’s what allowed me to be today at Arsenal and to join the France U21s. If I did not have that personality, I would not be there. I’m going to stay as I am, whether you like it or not.”
As an aside from his general excellence on the pitch, Guendouzi has established himself as a firm fan favourite in double quick time. After Arsenal’s triumph against arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the North London Derby, a video emerged of the Frenchman celebrating in the streets of London with the Arsenal faithful by leaning out of his car window on his way back home. He even touched foreheads with one fan and encouraged them to further their celebrations.
The togetherness between the fans and the players is something that has been a feature of Arsenal Football Club since, Arsene Wenger-ian values you could say and Guendouzi seems to have taken to the club brilliantly, something the fans won’t forget in a hurry.
An 8-million-pound fee was for someone who hadn’t been heard of outside of France was seen as a massive risk at that point as there have been numerous instances of players being signed from France for decent money and get shipped off soon afterwards after failing to make the grade in England (read Georges-Kevin N’Koudou) but Arsenal felt it was a risk worth taking.
Emery’s decision to spend a sizeable chunk of Arsenal’s meagre transfer budget on the young French midfielder has been vindicated in some style – a player of Guendouzi’s calibre is expected to cost at least triple of what Arsenal paid in July 2018.
Many young midfield players have moved from relatively smaller clubs recently, most recently Frenkie de Jong who moved to Barcelona for a whopping £70 million but scouts across Europe must definitely feel they missed the trick with Guendouzi.
Comparing the two players would be unfair owing to numerous reasons but as far as top U23 midfielders go, Guendouzi will most definitely be part of the conversation in 2019. The Frenchman, once a part of PSG's youth ranks, was courted by a host of top clubs across Europe including Borussia Dortmund and PSG themselves and he’ll be eager to prove the Parisian outfit wrong for letting go of him as a 15 year old.
Sven Mislintat’s reign at Arsenal only lasted a year but his keen eye meant Arsenal nabbed a bargain in Guendouzi and the London club could reap his rewards for years to come.
Arsenal’s season has, by no means, been a success as they are going through a phase of transition after Wenger’s departure but Guendouzi’s rise to prominence has been one of the things to celebrate.
Whatever happens from now until the end of the season, Guendouzi looks set to play a big part as Arsenal battle it out with the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United for a place in next seasons Champions League and Europa League glory would be on their minds too.
He’s only 19 and nowhere close to being a finished product but Arsenal fans have every right to be excited, he’s got all the makings to be a world class midfield player in the future.
Arsenal have been blessed with some fantastic midfield players over the years and Matteo Guendouzi looks all set to be the next breakout star to emerge from the London club.
