Martin Keown has criticised Unai Emery for starting young midfielder Matteo Guendouzi in Arsenals Premier League opener against Manchester City.
Arsenal signed Guendouzi, 19, from Ligue 1 outfit Lorient in the summer and the Frenchman started against City after an impressive pre-season.
He endured a mixed time against the reigning champions, however, often finding himself surrounded by City players and losing the ball.
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Keown described Guendouzis performance as gallant but has suggested that Emery was wrong to pick the teenager in his starting XI.
Arsenal still havent addressed the issues in midfield, the former Arsenal and England defender told the Daily Mail.
The fans have been waiting for many years for a top quality, experienced central midfielder but against Man City, they started a 19-year-old from the French second division.
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Starting Matteo Guendouzi felt like something Arsene Wenger would do. I am not criticising Guendouzis performance.
He gave a gallant display and Unai Emery clearly thought he showed enough fight and determination in pre-season to warrant starting over Lucas Torreira.
But City made life uncomfortable for Guendouzi at times and I did not feel it was the right game to expose such a young player.
Goals from Raheem Sterling and Bernarndo Silva either side of half-time secured the victory for City at the Emirates as Pep Guardiolas started their title defence in impressive fashion.
Following the match, Emery heaped praise on Guendouzi, saying he has already showed progress since joining the Gunners.
Its his first match here in the Premier League, he said. He has personality and quality and if he is on the pitch he is improving very quickly.
Keown, meanwhile, expects his former club Arsenal to be beaten this weekend when they make the short trip across London to Chelsea.
More: Football
Having also changed their manager over the summer, Chelsea kick-started the new campaign with a 3-0 victory over Huddersfield Town.
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Both teams have had big changes this summer but of the two sides, Chelsea look the more settled, Keown added. I can see them winning 1-0.
MORE: Why Man United made a u-turn on Director of Football role
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Martin Keown has criticised Unai Emery for starting young midfielder Matteo Guendouzi in Arsenals Premier League opener against Manchester City.
Arsenal signed Guendouzi, 19, from Ligue 1 outfit Lorient in the summer and the Frenchman started against City after an impressive pre-season.
He endured a mixed time against the reigning champions, however, often finding himself surrounded by City players and losing the ball.
More: Football
Keown described Guendouzis performance as gallant but has suggested that Emery was wrong to pick the teenager in his starting XI.
Arsenal still havent addressed the issues in midfield, the former Arsenal and England defender told the Daily Mail.
The fans have been waiting for many years for a top quality, experienced central midfielder but against Man City, they started a 19-year-old from the French second division.
Advertisement Advertisement
Starting Matteo Guendouzi felt like something Arsene Wenger would do. I am not criticising Guendouzis performance.
He gave a gallant display and Unai Emery clearly thought he showed enough fight and determination in pre-season to warrant starting over Lucas Torreira.
But City made life uncomfortable for Guendouzi at times and I did not feel it was the right game to expose such a young player.
Goals from Raheem Sterling and Bernarndo Silva either side of half-time secured the victory for City at the Emirates as Pep Guardiolas started their title defence in impressive fashion.
Following the match, Emery heaped praise on Guendouzi, saying he has already showed progress since joining the Gunners.
Its his first match here in the Premier League, he said. He has personality and quality and if he is on the pitch he is improving very quickly.
Keown, meanwhile, expects his former club Arsenal to be beaten this weekend when they make the short trip across London to Chelsea.
More: Football
Having also changed their manager over the summer, Chelsea kick-started the new campaign with a 3-0 victory over Huddersfield Town.
Advertisement Advertisement
Both teams have had big changes this summer but of the two sides, Chelsea look the more settled, Keown added. I can see them winning 1-0.
MORE: Why Man United made a u-turn on Director of Football role
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