Arsenal: Matteo Guendouzi still belongs right where he is

Matteo Guendouz had another downer of a match for Arsenal, but that doesn’t mean he belongs anywhere other than right where he is.

Arsenal dropped crucial points to Crystal Palace, and there seems to be a general theme to when the disappointment comes about. At least lately. And it starts in the midfield. Both against Crystal Palace and against Everton, Unai Emery gave the two midfield spots to Matteo Guendouzi and Mohamed Elneny.

It’s a midfield pairing that fails in every single sense of the word. Against Everton, it was a complete midfield collapse. It was much of the same in this recent loss to Crystal Palace, with Elneny contributing next to nothing and Guendouzi looking like a headless chicken.

It has led to some questions regarding whether Guendouzi should be sent out on loan to help iron out his intelligence in matches, but under no circumstances does this need to happen. Yes, he’s young and eclectic at times, but sending him elsewhere isn’t going to fix that any faster than just letting him play next to an experienced, versatile midfield.

Also known as playing him with someone other than Elneny.

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I think we all respect Elneny enough as a player to accept by now that he just isn’t good enough for the team. And I think Arsene Wenger knew that too, because even when he did sign him, he signed Granit Xhaka the following summer.

The fault isn’t with Guendouzi. What I suspect is happening is, in his youthful exuberance, he is trying to make up for the midfield deficit all by himself, which is leaving him stretched woefully thin, rushing around the pitch without any sense of direction.

But you don’t see that when he’s paired with Xhaka, or even with Torreira. And you certainly don’t see it when he’s in a midfield three. In those sets, he’s dynamic, vital, intelligent. Which should be all the proof we need that a loan is not necessary. We’d be getting rid of a valuable piece of the midfield.

All we know is that he isn’t mature enough to take control of the midfield all on his own. And guess what? That’s okay. He’s 19. He’s got time.

In the meantime, let’s keep him in midfield set-ups that help him develop as a midfield while still reaping the benefits of his current readiness. There’s no need to think about sending him anywhere other than where he is right now.