Interview

'Guendouzi is a very good example to others'

Matteo Guendouzi's meteoric rise has been one of the stories of the season so far.



 

The 20-year-old was playing in the French second division less than 18 months ago, but last week received his first call-up to the senior France squad.

 

Unai Emery has been hugely impressed by Guendouzi, having started him in every game for us this season, and says his progress should encourage others at the club.

 

"Matteo is a very good example for how we can develop our young players, with new young players or the spirit within the players who are here now," our head coach told Arsenal Player. "He started last year, at the beginning, with some doubts about his adaptation after he came from Lorient in the second division in France.

 

"He was very young, but his ambition and his wish to adapt very quickly, as well as his quality, were very good for us. He started playing and training with us, and after, his progress and development during the season was amazing.

 

"But also, we were working with him on some details we needed to improve with him - his food, his body, how we can work to make it stronger, his arms, his body, his legs.

 

"This year, I think heโ€™s taken one step ahead, improving and also giving us one level more in his performances. We want to continue with him, working in each training session and in each match.

 

"For him and for us itโ€™s a big challenge to take that step ahead. For other young players, his spirit, his progress, his development is a good example, for Willock, for Emile Smith Rowe, for Reiss Nelson. Itโ€™s a very good example for everybody."

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