Danny Owen
 
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Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi is making a fine impression on loan at Hertha Berlin with coach Bruno Labbadia hailing the France U21 star’s eye-catching ability, as reported by FootMercato.

This is not the first time the former Lorient starlet has been described as a rather ‘precious’ young man.

For once, however, this is in reference to his remarkable technical nous, rather than a well-documented tendency to let his emotions get the better of him.

The Rise & Fall of Ostersund

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Guendouzi fell out of favour at Arsenal after one act of indiscipline too many, with the unimpressed Mikel Arteta farming the £7 million man out to the Bundesliga.

Thankfully, Guendouzi has let his football do the talking since swapping the English capital for the German one.

And, in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Borussia Monchengladbach, the 21-year-old opened his account for Hertha with a brilliant first-time effort that flew into the top corner.

“(Goal-scoring) is not his specialty but his shot was great. This shows all his technique,” Labbadia said of a player who honed his talents in Paris Saint-Germain’s academy.

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“He is very, very precious to us. We are happy to have been able to get him signed. He is a very good footballer, who has a good sense of space and who is technically very strong.”

Given that Thomas Partey joined from Atletico Madrid in October, and with both Joe Willock and Mo Elneny raising their game this season, it seems unlikely that Guendouzi will be handed an olive branch at Arsenal.

As long as Arteta is in charge, anyway.

Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images

In other news, Rio Ferdinand claims all of Arsenal's senior players want Arteta to start 19-year-old prospect