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'I hope it isn't the end of Guendouzi's Arsenal career' | Kenny Cunningham

Despite Arsenal only picking up a point against Leicester on Tuesday night, Kenny Cunningham thin...



Soccer

'I hope it isn't the end of Guendouzi's Arsenal career' | Kenny Cunningham

Despite Arsenal only picking up a point against Leicester on Tuesday night, Kenny Cunningham thinks the Gunners are going in the right direction.

Cunningham joined Wednesday morning's OTB AM to discuss the progress that the Gunners have made under Arteta.

"I think they've been better since Arteta came in," said the former Irish captain, "in terms of an organisational point of view. You can tell he's quite a diligent coach."

"There's been a certain structure to what Arsenal have done since he's come into the football club. He hasn't always been hugely successful, their form has been a little up and down, but clearly there's been an improvement there in terms of the basic organisation of the team certainly from a defensive point of view."

Their defensive performances have improved over the past number of weeks, following the calamitous game against Manchester City, when David Luiz saw red.

Against Leicester, Arsenal defended much better, despite Jamie Vardy's late equaliser.

Cunningham still feels it will be a slow rebuild for Arsenal.

Until Arteta is able to revamp the current back four and bring in some new players it will take time before the Spaniard can guide the club back to its former heights.

"I think he is limited in terms of the players he has, particularly across the defensive line."

One young player in the headlines this week was Matteo Guendouzi. He reportedly trained away from the squad after their 2-1 loss to Brighton, when the Frenchman was involved in an altercation with Neal Maupay.

Cunningham feels Arteta would not have exiled the 21-year old based on that incident alone.

"I'd be very surprised if he's taken that stance and ostracised him from the group for a two week period just off the back of that one incident at Brighton."

If there was a culmination of things maybe there is a question mark about his attitude," said Cunningham.

Guendouzi's talent has never been questioned and Cunningham feels that Arteta should persist with him long-term.

"Generally speaking I'm a fan of the young kid. He is a young kid you have to remember that he is still developing, still growing as a person and as a player as well, and my gut reaction would be to stick with him."

I hate to see any young player leave a football club cast aside to a certain extent," said Cunningham

There is a question as to whether Arteta can afford to have a player around the squad that could destabilise the group.

Does the Spaniard have to set an example for the rest of the squad in order to establish his authority in the dressing room?

Cunningham feels that is a fine line to toe.

"I think you can be a strong manager, you can rule, you can manage with authority but you can also create an environment at the football club where players feel comfortable to express an opinion and show a bit of personality around the place."

Cunningham also discussed if Liverpool need to strengthen their squad ahead of next season. The interview can be viewed above.

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Arsenal Brighton And Hove Albion English Football Gunners Matteo Guendouzi Mikel Arteta Pierre Emerick Aubameyang Premier League