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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Darren Wells

Didier Deschamps sends Matteo Guendouzi warning to Arsenal fans after first France call-up

Didier Deschamps has urged Arsenal fans to be patient with Matteo Guendouzi and not heap too much pressure on him.

The France boss called Guendouzi into the senior international squad for the first time following the injury to Man Utd's Paul Pogba.

Guendouzi was on the bench for the Euro 2020 qualifier with Albania on Saturday but didn't get on the field.

He could make his debut in Tuesday's clash with Andorra, but Deschamps was keen not to place too much expectation on the midfielder.

"Do not ask too much, he's a young player, who is still the Espoirs generation, who plays a lot of matches with Arsenal where there is strong competition," Deschamps said, as reported by FootMercato .

Guendouzi was an unused substitute for France on Saturday (Getty Images)

"He's the modern midfielder, box to box as they say there, with a lot of power and technical quality too. He's there. What I expect from young people is that they bring this freshness, this dynamism.

"He is a very young player but with a very big potential."

Guendouzi has become a key member of Arsenal's first team, starting all four of their Premier League fixtures this season so far.

It was his performance against Tottenham in the Gunners' last match before the international break which particularly impressed, where he produced a superb performance capped off with an assist for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's equaliser.

Deschamps has urged Arsenal fans not to expect too much from the youngster (Icon Sport via Getty Images)

Gunners boss Unai Emery thinks highly of the 20-year-old, whom he signed for £8 million last summer.

But despite his call-up for France, Emery will perhaps be hoping Guendouzi plays little part given he may have already lost two players through injury during the break.

Granit Xhaka and Lucas Torreira both hobbled out of their country's respective clashs and are now doubts to face Watford on Sunday.

That could leave Guendouzi as the anchor in a three-man midfield with Joe Willock and Dani Ceballos ready to step into the starting XI.

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