Matteo Guendouzi Holds All the Tools to Become the Complete Midfield Package

Matteo Guendouzi is a player rapidly coming of age. If there is one thing we learned from a breathless and frantic spectacle in the North London Derby draw is that the young Frenchman will be a key figure for Unai Emery this season, a player who holds all the tools to become Arsenal’s most important component in the middle.

Ahead of the North London showpiece, many were licking their lips at the prospect of experiencing the potentially frightening trio of Nicholas Pepe, Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang running riot against Tottenham, the perfect platform to fully strut their destructive attacking play. In fact, Emery’s setup in midfield was indeed questionable, deploying a triumvirate of Granit Xhaka, Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi. Whether it was to bully Tottenham when out of possession or to completely halt their attempts to break at pace, neither of them worked as Harry Kane and co ran riot in the first-half.

With the absence of creative outlets such as Dani Ceballos and Mesut Ozil both on the bench, Arsenal needed an injection of guile from somewhere. Step forward, 20-year-old Matteo Guendouzi, a player who has truly taken in the rigours of the Premier League like a duck to water, since his move from French outfit Lorient in July 2018, the French youngster has become a regular player for Emery. Guendouzi was something of an unknown quantity when he joined the club, but it was Unai Emery’s knowledge and understanding of the player throughout his time at Paris Saint-Germain that drew his attention. It seems as though Emery’s trust in the player is already paying off.

Guendouzi was simply outstanding against Tottenham, the standout performer, the controlling force. Lucas Torreira is a brilliant player in his own right, but he did not provide Emery with the cutting edge when in and around the penalty area, hence Arsenal’s struggles to conjure up clear cut chances in the first-half. It was the introduction of Dani Ceballos that released the shackles in Arsenal’s play even despite Guendouzi’s brilliance in midfield. It was the young Frenchman’s understanding with the Spanish playmaker that proved the difference maker as it swung the tempo and pressure in Arsenal’s favour.

It wasn’t a perfect performance by any stretch of the imagination. There was too much chaos and tension within the middle of the park to allow the perfect performance. However, Guendouzi’s maturity, assured pieces of play, and his robust defensive efforts when Arsenal needed it most that was the most impressive. It’s not only against Tottenham that Guendouzi has shown his individual qualities, it’s been evident ever since he first put on the Arsenal shirt. His fuzzy and exuberant hairstyle is one element of his character and personality that has forced Arsenal fans to stand up and take notice. It’s his form through this season so far that has duly rewarded him with his first call-up to the French national team in place of Manchester United’s injured Paul Pogba, and it is a reward that is well deserved for a player that is showing much promise and maturity to his game, even at the tender age of 20.

In a frantic and open game. A game that saw poor mistakes and decision making from Sokratis and David Luiz for the Tottenham’s opening goal along with some miserable goalkeeping from Bernd Leno and a rashness from Granit Xhaka that provided Mauricio Pochettino’s men with the gift of picking up a two-lead inside 40 minutes. It was the mistakes of experienced international players who you’d never thought would be victims of such naivety when defending, players who are supposed to be exerting some control and the oft-discussed leadership and character that Arsenal have lacked for a number of years. These are the games that require more than the machismo, tactical understanding and the mere experience. It is a game that requires substance and maturity when faced with certain scenarios during different phases of play and Matteo Guendouzi provided just that. Granit Xhaka may have been the designated captain for the game, but it was the youngest player on the field in Guendouzi that led by example all throughout. It was Xhaka’s incompetence that left Arsenal with a mountain to climb, but that mountain was made easier by the influence of Guendouzi.

Guendouzi won more tackles than any one on the pitch, he regained possession more times than anyone and even covered more ground – 11.2 kilometres in total. Guendouzi was everywhere Emery needed him to be. It was his telling and imaginative pass that led to Aubameyang’s deft equaliser. It was like Guendouzi held a protractor trying to pick the angle in which to perfectly execute and dissect Tottenham’s back-line to pieces. It was a pass that even Mesut Ozil who sat out the game on the bench would have been most proud of. It was Guendouzi’s first ever Premier League assist, and he would have registered his first ever Arsenal goal had it not been for Hugo Lloris’s remarkable last ditch save.

It’s these kind of performances that makes you wonder how Matteo Guendouzi is only 20-years of age, it was a performance of a player that had been plying his trade in the Premier League for a number of years. In a game of such magnitude, a fixture that has provided the most excitement, goals and frenetic action throughout the history of English football. A game where it looked like Arsenal would once again falter, it was the young and impressive Guendouzi who stepped up and provided this famous club the inspiration needed to gain a much needed point.

Unai Emery has recently expressed his joy at Guendouzi and is encouraged by the Frenchman’s rapid progression since his move to the club:

“He’s very young but he is progressing. Last year was amazing for him. This year he is giving us one step more. Tactically with the ball he gives us a lot of control, he’s one of the keys for that. He works to give us balance defensively.”

‘Balance’, that’s the key word Unai Emery uses to describe Guendouzi and is one that is clearly evident through the youngster’s game. Guendouzi has the ability, and the tactical nous to successfully carry out his duty within central midfield. He can pass, tackle, intercept, control and dictate possession, and already has a good level of understanding in his defensive positioning. The Tottenham game was probably his best ever in an Arsenal shirt and it certainly won’t be his last. It is a huge season for Arsenal this year, as they carry out a strong pursuit to break into the top 4, failing to do last season. Certainly all eyes, will be on the tantalising prospects of the front three in Lacazette, Aubameyang and Nicolas Pepe and the creative fluidity of Dani Ceballos, but it is Matteo Guendouzi who could hold all the cards to Arsenal’s success this season. This should be his breakout year.

There is certainly no doubt that Matteo Guendouzi possesses all the tools to become the complete midfield package for Arsenal this season and for years to come.