Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi has said that manager Unai Emery told him that he was going to be a key player for him this season.
The Frenchman has enjoyed a impressive start to the new campaign, putting in a man of the man performance in the 2-2 north London derby draw with Tottenham last weekend, where he provided the assist for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's equalising goal.
His performances have not gone unnoticed. The midfielder has been called up to the French senior side by manager Didier Deschamps for the first time for the European qualifiers against Albania and Andorra, replacing the injured Paul Pogba.
Guendouzi has played every minute of every game for Arsenal so far this season, and has revealed the confidence that his manager had in him ahead of the new campaign.
“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 joined Arsenal from French club FC Lorient in July 2018, he has since gone onto make 52 appearances in all competitions for the club, scoring one goal.
