ARSENAL loanees Matteo Guendouzi and William Saliba shone for Marseille on Saturday just after their parent club were humiliated at Manchester City.
Midfielder Guendouzi opened the scoring in a 3-1 win against St Etienne as Saliba was described as a ‘joy to watch’.
Guendouzi’s 23rd minute strike was his first of the season while Saliba’s stats vs St Etienne were phenomenal.
The 20-year-old recorded 96 per cent pass accuracy, six successful dribbles from six attempted, one tackle, one interception, five clearances and eight out of 10 duels won.
After the game, Jacek Kulig tweeted: “What a player he is. Enormous talent and a pure joy to watch.”
Earlier in the day, across the Channel at the Etihad, Arsenal were thrashed 5-0 by Pep Guardiola’s side.
They didn’t manage a single shot on target and the game was as good as over 12 minutes in when Ferran Torres added City’s second.
Pint-sized Ilkay Gundogan had already peeled away from 6ft Calum Chambers – who was playing in centre-back Saliba’s position – to head City ahead.
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And, as he has done on plenty of occasions before, hot-headed Granit Xhaka lost the plot and effectively guaranteed his side’s defeat when he was sent off for a brainless two-footed lunge on Joao Cancelo.
Xhaka’s 35th minute red dashed any slim hopes Arsenal had of getting anything out the game and, sure enough, City went on to score three more while barley getting out of third gear.
Gabriel Jesus and Rodri made it 4-0 before Torres bagged a second six minutes from time.
Guendouzi was regularly criticised for his temperament at the Gunners and was shipped out on loan as a result.
Yet Xhaka seems impervious to internal punishment despite repeated displays of ill-discipline. In fact he’s been rewarded with a contract extension.
‘TOO EASY’
Marseille agreed a double loan deal for Frenchmen Saliba and Guendouzi this summer and they have both been a success at the Velodrome.
And after watching the embarrassment at City, Arsenal legend Ian Wright was also baffled as to why Saliba is not still with the club.
He told Premier League Productions: “You’ve got to show Mahrez down the line, Kieran Tierney lets him come inside and look how easy that is for Ferran Torres to go in there, in between the centre-backs, no-one is picking him up. Too easy.
“I think between the goalkeepers and the central defenders it’s all too easy.
“And I’m supposed to believe that Sead Kolasinac – someone that they’re trying to get rid of – is better than William Saliba?
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“Saliba, who is out on loan and apparently not at the standard [required for this level].
“So if he’s not at the standard to play in this team – and Kolasinac can play – why have we bought him?!
“Because if Kolasinac can play in front of him, what’s going on?! Why have we bought him?”
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