Matteo Guendouzi is breaking ground at Arsenal

Gunners midfielder Matteo Guendouzi is delighted with his preseason form.

Guendouzi is clearly popular among his new team-mates and no wonder - at half-time in Dublin the substitute made a point of walking onto the pitch to greet and encourage the players as they went off.

“The most important thing is for a team to stick together and to really operate as a unit," Guendouzi told Arsenal.com.

“That's not something that comes naturally to everyone. It's about everyone having a common objective, that we all want to achieve together. For me that means giving my team-mates encouragement.

“That helps me get into the game and feel close to my team-mates. With them I know I can go into battle."

The 19 year-old continued: “I'm a cheerful person, and there's a real 'joie de vivre' in the team – a great atmosphere.

“It's allowed me to really be myself with my team-mates, to have a laugh and make jokes.

“But you also need to remember when it's time to be serious in training. I've been able to balance both sides in that respect and so far things have gone really well."