Arsenal: Ranking young prospects by superstar likelihood

3. Matteo Guendouzi

It is easy to forget because he has been a starter for the majority of his career, but Matteo Guendouzi will only turn 21 this April. That he has already made 55 Premier League appearances and has established himself among the central midfield rotation is outrageous, and that is frequently overlooked given his youth.

Guendouzi’s recent performances have not quite lived up to his previous standard, but that says more about the quality of his prior play than it does his more recent outings. He has dropped out of the line-up under Mikel Arteta and needs to fine-tune his positioning, which is a little loose and youthful at times, but his talent is undeniable.

A brilliant passer, a capable dribbler and controller of play, athletic, strong, and wrapping all of these skills in an impassioned parcel that explodes into action, legs flailing, arms pumping, hair-raising. Guendouzi is all-action, which is sometimes to his detriment, but it proves what he is capable of. A little fine-tuning here and he could be the best central midfielder in the Premier League.