Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi put in an impressive performance in the north London Derby draw against Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium last weekend.
The 20-year-old Frenchman is very popular with manager Unai Emery and is a regular starter for the Gunners.
Former Manchester United boss and current Sky Sports pundit Jose Mourinho shared his views on the midfielder, revealing that he feels he passes the ball sideways too much, rather than looking forward.
When speaking on Sky Sports, as quoted by the Mirror, Mourinho said:
Sometimes when I watch matches I am a bit critical – in a good sense, on the coaching side of it – because sometimes I think Guendouzi plays too easy and too many square passes when he can look forward.
His first control normally is immediately for a sideways pass.
These Arsenal fans reacted to the comments, with many agreeing with the Portuguese boss…
@ghOstyor said :’Guendouzi might be having good games recently, but I think Jose is correct.’
@ArsenalicRay said: ‘Spot on..just imagine how good he would get if he always moved /passed forward. He did that against spurs and thats why he is on everyone’s lips..more of that and he would be untouchable’.
@3cbPerformance said: ‘Great measured analysis from Jose’.
@tolimtotti said: ‘This man spoke my mind’.
@rashkahajj said: ‘He is very right ….there is something missing from his game! Sideways and backpasses I think he learnt from Mo Elneny No urgency and that first pass in his game! Jose is absolutely spot on here’
Does Mourinho want the Arsenal job?
@AD828321 said: ‘I’m starting to think that the man is tooling for the Arsenal job.’
@cku_wildfire said: ‘Mourinho has become an expert on Arsenal matters.’
READ ARSENAL VERDICT
Guendouzi was hugely influential in Arsenal’s comeback against Spurs as he set up the equaliser.
His potential is there for everyone to see and the more matches that he plays at the highest level, the more he will learn.
He does tend to take the safer option when passing the ball, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing as it allows the Gunners to control the tempo of the game.
However, in certain situations, the Frenchman does need to look forward more, especially with Arsenal possessing rapid and dangerous front-men this season.
This is something which Guendouzi will undoubtedly learn the more he plays and now that he’s involved with the France international senior squad, he’ll be getting the guidance of the highest level from fellow players and coaches.
