Matteo Guendouzi says that a pre-season confidence boost from Unai Emery has helped him make the jump into the France senior squad.
The 20-year-old has started the season in fine form, turning in a series of impressive displays.
He put in a man of the match performance as he helped the Gunners come from two goals down to earn a point against Tottenham in the North London derby on Sunday , when he teed up forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for the equaliser.
An injury to Manchester United's Paul Pogba has now seen him called up to the France senior squad for this week's Euro 2020 qualifiers at home to Albania and Andorra, when he could win a first cap at that level for the world champions having played for France at all levels from under-18s up to under -21s.
A firm favourite with the Emirates Stadium crowd, Guendouzi says that the backing of his manager in pre-season has been key to his campaign thus far having enjoyed a breakthrough campaign last year.
“Whether defensively or tactically, the coach wanted me to work on a lot of things," he told French newspaper L'Equipe (via insideFutbol ).
“Tactically, I feel I have progressed a lot.
“I managed to make myself important for the team and it is really something that was important for me.
“The coach told me that this year I was going to be a key player.
“That is what I have managed to do now.”
Guendouzi joins Lille pair Mike Maignan and Jonathan Ikone as the three uncapped members of the France squad this week, as the world champions seek to improve on their record of three wins and a defeat from their four qualifying matches this week.
