Arsenal vs Chelsea: 5 things learned in the trapdoor of hope

2. Matteo Guendouzi is everything we could have ever dreamed of.

When you’re asked, as a 19-year-old, to jump from Ligue 2 to the Premier League, to a team that is in a transition under a new manager, and then asked to go up against Manchester City and then Chelsea in 180 minutes of end-to-end football, you should have pretty low expectations.

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But Guendouzi, who has been asked to do all those things, has been fantastic. And the best part is that he improved between City and Chelsea. He didn’t give the ball away like he did against City and he showcased a lot more of his offensive chops, getting forward with the ball and the like.

Guendouzi is already responsible for winning the ball back 16 times in his first two games, and that is split as evenly as you could ask – four tackles and four interceptions in each of his first two games.

In two matches where not a lot went right, Guendouzi has been the one bright spot that has been equal parts consistent and literally enthralling. I can’t imagine a much better signing than what we’ve found in him.

Finally, back to the negative with No. 1.