Do Not Sell My Personal Information
Matteo Guendouzi had well-documented relationship issues with Arteta during his time at Arsenal and now has shed more light on the matter.
THE LOWDOWN: TOPSY-TURVY TIME AT ARSENAL
Arsenal sits atop the Premier League, with everything looking dandy at the moment. The Gunners have travelled some distance to their current position. Mikel Arteta hopes his wards can continue in their current form as they strive to win their first Premier League title since 2004.
The Gunners sit two points above defending champions Manchester City, who have the unreal form of Erling Haaland to thank for their pursuit of a third straight Premier League title.
Under the sheen of beautiful football and commensurate results at the Emirates is a volcano contained by the wily Spanish manager Mikel Arteta. The focused look of the former Arsenal midfielder bellies a ruthlessness that makes him a tough man to tackle. He has had his fair share of friction with certain players and came out looking good but not entirely smelling of roses.
THE LATEST: GUENDOUZI EXPLAINS WHY HE LEFT ARSENAL
While the high-profile issues between Mikel Arteta and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang took the headlines, it is easy to forget that Matteo Guendouzi was the first to have a bust-up with the Spanish gaffer. The French midfielder eventually had to leave the Emirates for Marseille but has spoken about his relationship with Arteta.
The temperamental midfielder spoke about his poor relationship with Arteta for the first time. He talked about the circumstances leading to his eventual exit for Marseille.
In a recent interview with BeIN Sports, he said: “Journalists used this excuse to say that we had a bad relationship and that’s why I stopped playing and left Arsenal [the Maupay incident],” Guendouzi claimed. “Not at all. It’s a gesture like many on the pitch. There’s a lot of tension sometimes, a lot of problems on the pitch. In any case, it has nothing to do with all that.”
Addressing his time under Arteta, the ex-Gunner added: “It’s true that I didn’t have the best relationship with him. Beyond that, I always tried to work, always gave the maximum of myself in training and in matches. I still play a few matches with him, I still did great performances.
“He preferred other players and I respect that decision. That’s why, afterwards, I also decided to leave because I was still young, I needed playing time to continue to progress. The most important when you’re young is to play.”
THE VERDICT: HUGE TALENT BUT QUESTIONABLE CHARACTER
Admittedly, Guendouzi is a player with a huge potential but his character is one that could yet hinder his progress. While Arteta is always quick to impose his authority, it is no coincidence that the young Frenchman has had a disciplinary issue at all clubs he has been at, including current side Marseille.
At the end of the day, it was the right decision for Arteta to sell him and instil the culture and type of discipline he wanted in the Arsenal dressing room.
