Arsenal: Matteo Guendouzi has already made that difference

Arsenal’s budding superstar Matteo Guendouz told himself to “make a difference” at his new club, and we can already say mission accomplished.

As with a lot of Arsene Wenger era signings, when an unknown comes into the Arsenal first team picture, there is a dose of hesitation, but just as much excitement. We never know what to expect. It could be another Yaya Sanogo.

But the new comparison is going to be, “well, it could be another Yaya Sanogo, or it could be another Matteo Guendouzi.” Because Guendouzi was that unknown who became so much more than what many expected him to be. A 19-year-old from Ligue 2 worth £7m? Not an impressive resume.

And yet the standard was set so high in those first two matches, when he proved to be the only bright spot in the consecutive losses to Manchester City and Chelsea that opened up the season, and the Unai Emery era.

Recently, Guendouzi opened up about what he told himself when the move was completed via a fantastic read from the Player’s Tribune, penned by the man himself. His words:

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“When I came to Arsenal, I wasn’t telling myself, ‘I am the new guy, the youngest player on the team, so I need to be careful.’ I was telling myself, ‘You’ve been brought here to make a difference,’ and that’s what I’m striving for.”

Funny enough, you can say that Guendouzi already accomplished that difference. Not just in the here and now, but in then mentality around the club. There’s a difference between being excited about Reiss Nelson or other prospects that have dipped their toe in the first team and show glimpses of promise, and being excited about someone like Guendouzi who doesn’t just dip his toe in, but dives in head first, showcasing what makes him so special and so many other niblets of what is yet to come.

He’s got the prospectus of a youngster but the present talent of a dynamic first-teamer. If that isn’t a difference maker, than I don’t know what is.

And as for the confidence he has inspired in the future, not enough can be said there either. The midfield is such an important piece of the puzzle, I would argue the most important, so to have someone like him, who literally does it all… yeah, he’s made a difference.

But don’t worry, there are plenty of other differences yet to be made.