Why offloading the talented but fiery Matteo Guendouzi is the right move

Why offloading the talented but fiery Matteo Guendouzi is the right move

By Peter White

As the dust settles on Arsenal’s lacklustre 2020/21 campaign at home and in Europe, plans are well underway to ensure such shortcomings don’t occur again during the impending season. 

With the club having failed to qualify for continental competition for the first time in 25 years under his tutelage, boss Mikel Arteta is hard at work moulding a squad he believes is capable of rediscovering former glories. 

One member of his team seemingly edging closer to the exit door is French midfielder Matteo Guendouzi, who fell out of favour early into the Spaniard's reign. 

After a season out on loan at Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin, it is being reported the 22-year-old has agreed to sign for Marseille on a permanent deal, back in his homeland. 

One stumbling block could prove to be the signing fee the Ligue 1 side are willing to pay, with Arsenal’s reasons for selling largely do with attitude and mindset rather than ability on the pitch. 

Indeed, Guendouzi saw his value skyrocket up to the £45m mark after bursting onto the scene under former Gunners boss Unai Emery, soon after a £7m switch from Lorient. 

Now, just 12 months or so later it is being suggested he could be sold for a figure in the region of £13m, with his deal at the Emirates due to expire next year. 

With some fans perplexed by such a move, we reflect on how the relationship between Arteta and Guendouzi deteriorated and whether keeping hold of the France youth international could make sense. 

How the situation evolved

Guendouzi established himself as one of Arsenal’s most promising talents while playing 48 games in both his and Emery’s first season at the Emirates, earning himself a maiden call-up to the French senior side in September 2019. 

Just a few months later however, Arteta’s appointment as Emery’s replacement would mark the start of the end for Guendouzi in north London, with the latter failing to make the Premier League squad for the final eight games of last season.

An altercation with a teammate and an incident of poor behaviour during a warm-weather training camp in Dubai in February 2020 supposedly damaged any chance Guendouzi had under Arteta. 

Then, an infamous appearance at Brighton four months later seemingly confirmed Arteta’s reservations, with Guendouzi clashing with Neal Maupay and reportedly taunting the Seagulls players about their wages. 

Arteta has shown during his time in charge of Arsenal that he is prepared to shun anyone he feels doesn’t fit into the mentality he is trying to instil, and Guendouzi was sent to Germany last October with his Arsenal future hanging by a thread. 

Time for pastures new

A regular spot in the Hertha Berlin side has seemingly done little to convince Arteta that Guendouzi is worthy of a second chance at 14-time FA Cup winners Arsenal. 

Despite making 24 appearances for Pal Dardai’s men his hot-tempered nature hasn’t gone unnoticed in Germany, with the Hertha boss branding him a “rebel”. 

He said: “It’s like puberty for him, he’s kind of a rebel. He has to work and learn like an animal.” 

The main subject of controversy surrounding Guendouzi’s departure seems to be based on the suggested fee, which would see Arsenal pick up a lot less than he was apparently worth only a matter of months ago. 

A figure of around £13m wouldn’t provide the sort of funds needed to lure targets such as the £50m-rated Yves Bissouma, who Arteta is apparently interested in bringing in as a midfield replacement. 

Other players on Arteta’s wish list - such and Emiliano Buendia and Martin Odegaard - are likely to command similar fees, meaning there is plenty of uncertainty around how deep the Arsenal hierarchy will be willing to delve into their pockets. 

But rather than wait until Guendouzi can leave for nothing, picking up a fee of some sort seems the sensible option with Arteta having seemingly made up his mind about the Frenchman. 

Rumours continue to circulate about the futures of players such as Eddie Nketiah, Bernd Leno and Granit Xhaka, and money gathered from any of those deals could help fund the arrival of some fresh blood. 

Part of backing Arteta was surely to do with helping him shape his own squad, and the former skipper will be hoping a further changing of the guard will lead to domestic success next term.

Photo Credit: Getty Images