Just when it seemed Arsenal’s season was once again following an upward trajectory, Thursday night happened. The Gunners’ pursuit of a top four place in the Premier League has been boosted by a recent run of good form, but even still, the Europa League could come to define the North London club’s season. That’s why the defeat to Rennes felt so significant.

A 2-1 loss away from home ahead of next week’s return leg at the Emirates Stadium would have been a recoverable situation for Arsenal. They have been strong at home this season and would have fancied their chances of progressing to the Europa League quarter finals. The third goal changed the complexion of the tie.

The blame game started almost as immediately as the full time whistled. Pierre-Emerick looked like he wanted to blame Unai Emery, who bizarrely withdrew his top scorer when Arsenal were desperate for a goal late on in the game. Others looked at Sokratis Papastathopoulos, who was sent off after just 41 minutes.

Matteo Guendouzi was another targeted for his below par performance. Indeed, the young Frenchman was poor, with many highlighting how the teenager failed to track back as Rennes burst forward to score a crucial third goal. When the cross was played into Petr Cech’s penalty box, Guendouzi wasn’t even in the 18-yard area.

However, Guendouzi has done enough this season this to earn himself some leeway and tolerance from a fanbase notorious for their hysterical reaction to poor performances like the one witnessed in France on Thursday night.

Arsenal have a real prospect on their hands. The acquirement of Guendouzi last summer now looks like being one of the shrewdest signings made by the North London club in their recent history. Guendouzi has been so impressive this season he is now reportedly drawing interest from Paris Saint-Germain, who are apparently willing to stump up £50 million for the midfielder.

Of course, Arsenal should do what they can to rebuff that interest. Guendouzi is the sort of midfielder the Gunners have needed for the best part of a decade. He’s the sort of central piece they should be building around. At just 19, dips in form are to be expected. In fact, it’s these dips that help a young player progress. Guendouzi suffered one such dip on Thursday night and in the long term, that’s just fine.

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Of all the summer signings made by Arsenal, none catch the eye quite like Matteo Guendouzi. That’s partly down to the mop of hair on top of his head. Comparisons have already been drawn to a certain David Luiz. However, it’s also down to the playing style of the young Frenchman.

Signed from Lorient as one for the future, Guendouzi has been thrown in at the deep end by new Arsenal manager Unai Emery. The 19-year-old was a key figure for the Gunners throughout pre-season and kept his place for the opening Premier League fixture against champions Manchester City on Sunday.

That put him up against the likes of Bernardo Silva, Fernandinho and Ilkay Gundogan. City boast the best midfield unit in the Premier League, one of the best in the European game right now, and this is what Guendouzi faced on his competitive bow for his new club. The task could hardly have been any tougher.

Indeed, Guendouzi looked out of his depth at times. As is the norm for a Pep Guardiola outfit, Man City were on top of him every time he received the ball, with the young Frenchman a little slack in possession more than once. This prompted a wave of social media derision, with even a few moans and groans heard from the Emirates Stadium crowd.

Arsenal must stand by their young, midfield talent, though. Guendouzi’s performance against City might have been unpolished, raw, but he always showed for the ball. While Arsenal teams in years gone by have gone missing on the big stage, Guendouzi only seemed to be emboldened by some of his struggles. That is a quality that Emery will need more of going forward.

“It’s his first match here in the Premier League,” the former Paris Saint-Germain and Sevilla boss explained after the opening weekend defeat. “He has personality and quality and if he is on the pitch he is improving very quickly.” Indeed, Guendouzi has the sort of personality Arsenal desperately need at this time.

What’s more, he’s the sort of midfielder the Gunners have lacked for years. Many have pitted Guendouzi directly against Lucas Torreira, arguing that the Uruguayan should be ahead of the French youngster in the pecking order. It’s true that Torreira probably should have started against Man City, but it shouldn’t be a case of one over the other. They are very different midfielders and could actually compliment each other in the same side.

It’s somewhat understandable that having called for change for so long there is an air of impatience at Arsenal. They want to make up for lost time and they want to do it right away. Guendouzi might well drop out of the starting lineup in the coming weeks, but he has shown enough already to suggest he has a promising career with the Gunners. However, he needs the faith of his manager, which he has, and his own fans, who have still to be convinced.

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