Arsenal: Matteo Guendouzi the perfect Jack Wilshere replacement

Jack Wilshere was once the shining star of the Arsenal youth prospects. That mantle has now been passed to Matteo Guendouzi, who has made quite the first impression.

During the 2018 summer transfer window, Arsenal bought a player whose name no one had ever come across before. A player with a £7 million price tag and had been playing in Ligue 2 with few senior appearances. We would have been lying had we said that we knew who Matteo Guendouzi was.

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The 19-ear-old was bought from FC Lorient with few expectations. He was reportedly talented, but no one really knew what he was capable of. Or what should be deemed as suitable targets for his first season at the club. The preseason was on the horizon and everybody was raring to go under the new manager, Unai Emery.

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It was anticipated that the young Guendouzi would play with the under 21s and slowly establish himself amongst the first team. That is what usually happens in these cases. And so it proved to be, initially, at least. Guendouzi was brought on in the 77th minute in the first preseason fixture against Boreham Wood. He showed great potential, playing soundly in a box-to-box role for the brief time he was on the pitch. But it was nothing more than a glimpse.

Then came Paris Saint-Germain in the International Champions Cup. Guendouzi, this time, started. And not only did he play well in the 5-1 win, but he completely bossed the midfield, very much like another 19-year-old starlet once did against a European giant. Even though it was preseason, this was very reminiscent of Jack Wilshere’s brilliance against Barcelona all those years ago. And so, throughout the whole summer, a guy whose name was hardly known before became the standout player and the talk of the town. There was a buzz surrounding Guendouzi.

Wilshere, the Arsenal superboy and fan favorite, had already left the club as he was denied surety of playing time by the new manager. He was rare in the sense that he truly knew the meaning of playing for the club. But he was now gone. Change had been instigated.

However, in his stead, here was Guendouzi delivering down carpet passes like Wilshere once did; that eagerness to carry the ball forward that ran through the veins of Wilshere, taking on players and surpassing them easily, the vision of a sniper which a prime Wilshere used to have.

Guendouzi was seeing passes that only he could see, opening up teams like they were nothing but a box with a lid. And all with the same innocence as which Wilshere used to have. The win-at-any-cost mentality was running through the blood of young Matteo.

Injuries, in the end, ruined Wilshere’s career. But few would argue against his natural talent and flair. Guendouzi has so many similarities. He is now at the start of the journey that Wilshere embarked upon. If he remains injury free, then brace yourselves. You are in for a real treat. Guendouzi, like Wilshere before him, is special, very special.