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Football

15th Aug 2018

Arsenal midfielder believes club can win the title this season

Wayne Farry

Arsenal

Arsenal are in an unusual place at the moment

Arsenal are coming out of the other side of more than two decades of Arsene Wenger management, and new manager Unai Emery is attempting to instill his own identity on a club which has not won a league title in more than 14 years.

Arsenal are not the same club that they used to be. Years of management under Wenger had left the players seemingly terrified of their own shadows, abundantly aware that even the most minor error would result in condemnation from supporters and the media.

As such, it was rare to ever hear an Arsenal player or supporter make ludicrously confident declarations at the start of the season, knowing that – most likely – they would be left to eat their words come May.

That doesn’t appear to be the case with some of this new Arsenal team however, if new midfielder Matteo Guendouzi’s comments in an interview with the Evening Standard are anything to go by.

Speaking to the newspaper, Guendouzi expressed his belief that the club can overturn the relative Goliath of Manchester City and win the Premier League title this season.

“Yes, I believe we can win it this season because of the players and staff we have,” said the 19-year-old, who made his debut for Arsenal on Sunday following a £7 million summer move from Ligue 2 side Lorient.

“We truly believe and will do everything we can to win as many games as we can and to have a fantastic season. I truly believe we can do it.”

Guendouzi’s comments come off the back of the 2-0 defeat to Manchester City in the Gunners opening match of the season. The Frenchman was a surprise inclusion in the starting eleven and despite a mixed display, he impressed supporters and pundits with his efforts.