Mikel Arteta’s choice to cast Matteo Guendouzi aside during his time at Arsenal appears to have been influenced by the midfielder’s attitude, as revealed by one of his ex-team-mates.
The 25-year-old Guendouzi first made waves at FC Lorient, securing his initial professional contract in 2016. After polishing his skills for two seasons, he caught the attention of the Gunners, making the move to the Premier League in 2018 in a deal that remained undisclosed.
Under the management of Unai Emery, Guendouzi made a notable impact in his debut season, competing in 33 league fixtures and appearing 15 times in cup matches. However, once Arteta took over the reins in December 2019, he found himself sidelined in favour of Lucas Torreira and Granit Xhaka. This led to loan spells with Hertha Berlin and Marseille before his permanent transfer to the latter in 2022.
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Jeremie Aliadiere, who enjoyed a six-year tenure with Arsenal starting from the age of 16 in 2001 and was Guendouzi’s teammate at Lorient, shed light on the possible sources of tension between Arteta and his former player. In an interview with The TelegramAliadiere stated: “From a purely football perspective, I don’t think there are any surprises based on talent.”
He continued, “During my final season at Lorient, I had glimpses of his attitude. I thought to myself, if he aspires to operate at a big club, a change in approach is essential. I believe he realised that when he joined Arsenal.”
Guendouzi has garnered a reputation for his intense temperament, especially following a confrontation with Brighton’s Neal Maupay in 2020, which saw him sidelined from training and allegedly dropped from the squad over issues related to “attitude and general conduct.”
Despite the deterioration between Guendouzi and Arteta, leading to his loan to Hertha Berlin, Guendouzi has claimed that the altercation with Maupay was not the reason behind his exit from Arsenal. In 2022, he clarified: “The media used that incident to suggest a strained relationship, which is entirely untrue. It was merely an on-field moment, a reflection of the game’s intensity. It had no bearing on my situation at Arsenal.”
Guendouzi acknowledged that his rapport with Arteta could have been better, admitting: “It’s true I didn’t have the smoothest relationship with him. Nonetheless, I always endeavoured to give my all in training and matches. I had several strong performances but he opted for other players, a decision I respect. That necessity for regular playing time led to my eventual departure. At a young age, game time is paramount for development.”
Following a successful two-year stint at Marseille, where he racked up 35 appearances, Guendouzi was loaned to Lazio for the 2023/24 season. This move has since turned permanent, and he has featured in all 12 Serie A matches for Lazio so far this season.
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