Arsenal: Matteo Guendouzi and the importance of finishing strong

Arsenal youngster Matteo Guendouzi has had an up and down year in his inaugural season, but Burnley gives him an excellent chance to finish strong.

Certainly one of the steals of last summer’s transfer window is Matteo Guendouzi. Arsenal acquired him for chump change and in return, they didn’t just get a fantastic addition to the present-day squad, they got someone to build around for the future.

The young Frenchman hasn’t been a perfect player, obviously, but for someone who just turned 20-years-old, he’s remarkably ahead of his time, especially considering that he only just came from Ligue 2 side Lorient and so little was expected of him.

There are clear drawbacks – positional awareness, security on the ball, chilling out – but those are all things that come with experience. Even in this one season, he has developed a much better eye for passing and a strong affinity for driving forward with the ball, even if, at times, it’s a bit reckless.

While the season has been up and down, he has certainly set the stakes for what’s to come. You can tell by the mid-season links to PSG for a £60m fee. It’s been awhile since the Gunners have had a youngster like that.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
• 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
• Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
• 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• Mikel Arteta provides Gabriel Martinelli injury update after Everton win

With the season winding to a close and Burnley last on the docket, Guendouzi figures to be in the starting XI in the name of rotation. And that being the case, the young Frenchman has a fantastic opportunity to close the season out on a high note.

As mentioned, with the season being so up and down for Guendouzi, it’s important to close out the season on a high note and set the tone for next season, when he could be an instrumental piece to fixing the current state of the club, particularly in the midfield. He needs to develop in a few key areas, and that will be a prime goal of the offseason.

Whatever the case, there’s a lot to look forward to with Guendouzi, and there will be that much more if he can take it into the offseason on top of his game, gunning for his second season with the club.

No matter how this season turns out, if we win the Europa League final or not, one significant bright spot is the acquisition of Matteo Guendouzi. It also gives hope that other such signings can actually exist, where money won’t matter so much.