Matteo Guendouzi finally disassociated himself permanently from Arsenal this summer as his permanent switch to Marseille was confirmed with the Ligue 1 side activating a meagre buy-option in his loan agreement. The midfielder never meshed with the Gunners’ manager Mikel Arteta’s ideals and approach.
He was ousted from the Arsenal squad after an incident at Brighton involving Neal Maupay but had also experienced problems whilst on a warm weather training camp. football.london understood the midfielder was given several opportunities to apologise for his actions.
He left on loan to Hertha Berlin where he was described by coach Pal Dardai as still going through ‘football puberty’ and lacking maturity. The German club had no interest in making a deal permanent, which is when the move to Marseille occurred which rescued and elevated his career.
READ MORE: The two Arsenal players set to benefit most from Fabio Vieira's introduction ahead of new season
Although now a French senior international, it has not stopped the midfielder from staying out of controversy. As recently as this week Guendouzi repeated his most embarrassing Arsenal moment and took it to a new level.
In a friendly with Real Betis, after OM took an 87th-minute lead, Guendouzi was pictured holding up his hands with a ‘1-0’ gesture. This clearly aggravated Betis legend Joaquin and the 41-year-old confronted the Frenchman.
The pair had words before continuing with the game. Guendouzi’s embarrassment would come when his gesture would crumble as Betis equalised just three minutes after conceding.
This mirrors the time Guendouzi used a ‘2-1’ gesture to Watford supporters in a game Arsenal would eventually see end 2-2. This time around, however, Guendouzi and Joaquin came to blows again after celebrations for the equaliser boiled over.
The Spaniard, known for some of his comedic comments, posted to Instagram a story wearing a wig captioned, ‘You make me hesitate to wear hair long.’
Mikel Arteta and Edu have worked to try and change the culture at Arsenal, having moved on many of the players at the Emirates Stadium when they arrived. Edu told football.london recently about the ‘investments’ needed to move players on quickly over allowing their contracts to run down instead.
“If you imagine, 'Oh, no problem: this season we’re going to expose the player a little bit more and then we sell them' - no, be realistic,” Edu said. “You don’t want to sell the player.
“Try to avoid one more year with the problem inside, in the dressing room, expensive, not performing. Clean, take it out. Even, I’m sorry, if you have to pay. To leave is better. Because that guy is sometimes also blocking someone. Take it out.
“I know it hurts, I know it’s strange when I go to the board and say: "Sometimes it’s better to pay a player to leave, than maintain them." But I consider it an investment.
“Sometimes people say: 'It’s expensive'. I say: 'No, it’s investment.' But someone will pay if you sell? No, guys - if the player is above 26, 27 and not performing, big salary, no chance.”
Guendouzi, it seems, was a player they may have moved on to help arrest the slide of the dressing room's disciplinary issues. A departure they saw a financial return on instead of one needing 'investment'.
Have you been following England's progress to the final of the Women's Euros? Been cheering on Lionesses captain Leah Williamson, tournament joint-top scorer Beth Mead and the other Arsenal players taking part?
Then why not take the opportunity to purchase the official matchday programme for Sunday's final between England and Germany at Wembley?
Click here to find out how you can get hold of your copy!
READ NEXT:
Arsenal have 13 players guaranteed to miss Crystal Palace trip at the start of next season
Arsenal news and transfers LIVE: All the latest updates and rumours from the Emirates Stadium
Full Arsenal Premier League fixture list for 2022/23
William Saliba and Oleksandr Zinchenko in Mikel Arteta's Arsenal plans for Crystal Palace opener
Edu tells Lucas Paqueta he must do to convince Arsenal to invest as Lyon prepare for sale
