Henrikh Mkhitaryan believes that Matteo Guendouzi can become one of the best in the world if he keeps working hard.

When Guendouzi arrived at Arsenal in the summer none of us knew anything about him. Journalists told us he was ‘one for the future’ so we went with that and found ourselves incredibly surprised that he was starting games week in, week out.

While more senior players like Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil were sidelined, the teenager was pushed front and centre of Unai Emery’s new side and he hasn’t let anyone down.

Speaking to COPA 90, Henrikh Mkhitaryan said of the Frenchman, “He is 19 years old, he has to be focused on football! At 18, 19 years old he’s come here and is playing for Arsenal from Ligue 2 from Lorient. It isn’t everyone who can have this chance. I think he has big talent.

“We are telling him every day that he has to work very hard, he has to have his feet on the earth because he’s still 19 and has to work hard, hard, hard and he can become one of the best in the world.”

Matteo Guendouzi has been nominated for Young Player of the Year (under 21) at the London Football Awards alongside Eberchi Eze (QPR), Karlan Grant (Charlton), Declan Rice (West Ham), and Aaron Wan-Bissaka (Crystal Palace).