Arsenal loanee Matteo Guendouzi going through football ‘puberty’, says Hertha Berlin coach

Midfielder, 21, joined the Bundesliga side at the start of the season

Matteo Guendouzi (centre) in action for Hertha (Getty Images)

Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi is undergoing a sort of football “puberty” at Hertha Berlin, according to head coach Pal Dardai.

Guendouzi joined the Bundesliga club on loan at the start of the season and has made established himself in the first team under Dardai, who is full of praise for the 21-year-old.

“It’s like puberty for him, he’s kind of a rebel,” the Hungarian coach said of Guendouzi while speaking to Bild, per Goal.

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“He has to work and learn like an animal.”

Hertha were beaten 3-0 by RB Leipzig on Sunday, with Guendouzi losing the ball inside his own box just three minutes after coming off the bench. The mistake led to Leipzig’s second goal, and Dardai said of the error: “In training, I always stop these kind of duels, because you can’t fall to the ground like this.

“And, afterwards, he’s mad.”

In Guendouzi’s absence, Arsenal are 10th in the Premier League table with 34 points from 25 games.

Mikel Arteta’s Gunners were beaten 1-0 by league leaders Manchester City at the weekend, with Raheem Sterling’s second-minute goal enough to separate the sides come the final whistle.

Arsenal next take on Benfica in the last 32 of the Europa League, entering the second leg level on aggregate (1-1) with the Portuguese side.

Hertha, meanwhile, who are only above the Bundesliga’s relegation play-off place on goal difference, travel to Wolfsburg in the German top flight.