Matteo Guendouzi believes he has taken his game to the next level with Arsenal, after his first call-up for the senior French national team over the current international break.

Guendouzi replaced the injured Paul Pogba in Didier Deschamps’ latest France squad, earning his first opportunity to feature with the team.

Without meaning to be insensitive, Pogba’s injury couldn’t have come at a better time for the Arsenal man, after he’d just starred in the North London derby with one of his best performances for his club side.

All the same, Guendouzi claims that whilst he didn’t expect the call-up this soon, he knew he’d have a chance if he was playing as he has been for Arsenal.

“It is maybe a bit of surprise that it has arrived so quickly,” Guendouzi said (via Goal). “But I knew that if I was performing with Arsenal, one of the biggest clubs in Europe, then I would have a chance. My chance is now and I want to take it.

“I believe in myself and in my qualities. I don’t take anything for granted because I know that only hard work pays off. That’s why I am here.

“I really feel that I have improved massively in the last year or so. Tactically, I am more mature, technically and physically, I have taken my game to the next level.”

Self-belief is one of Guendouzi’s best qualities, and it’s one that ensures he doesn’t suffer from nerves despite his age. If anything, the midfielder raises his game on the bigger occasions.

The player has also had no trouble fitting in with the Arsenal squad, which isn’t exactly surprising when the two star players of the team are also French-speaking and France-born. Club-record summer signing Nicolas Pepe shouldn’t have any problems adapting for the same reason.

Now they just need to convert their good relationships off the pitch into results on it, getting Arsenal back into the Champions League and challenging for trophies again.