Guendouzi to ‘remain a Gunner’; reveals Arsenal failure ‘hurts deeply’
Matteo Guendouzi says he will always “remain” an Arsenal fan after revealing how it hurt him “deeply” to see the Gunners fail to qualify for Europe.
The 22-year-old has spent the season on loan at Hertha Berlin after falling out of favour under Mikel Arteta.
During that time, he’s been searching for a permanent route out of the Emirates, with France understood to be his ideal destination.
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Premier League side Arsenal are reportedly prepared to sell him for £25million as they’ve become frustrated with his bad attitude.
However, it now looks likely that he will join Ligue 1 side Marseille this summer on loan initially before sealing a £10m permanent transfer next summer.
The Gunners didn’t qualify for Europe after finishing eighth in the Premier League this season and Guendouzi has revealed that their failure “hurts deeply”.
“To see that the club failed to qualify for a European competition for the first time in 25 years hurts deeply. That affects me emotionally a lot,” Guendouzi told Bild.
“Arsenal are a big club in Europe that deserve to be in the Champions League every year. That’s normal for me, an institution like this deserves only the best.
“Arsenal must return to where it belongs. I don’t know the reasons for the failure because I wasn’t there last season. But I’m concerned about the club’s situation because Arsenal deserve great things.
“I am a Gunner from the bottom of my heart and will remain so, no matter what.”
When speaking about the Arsenal loanee in February, Hertha Berlin boss Pal Dardai labelled Guendouzi a “rebel” who must “learn like an animal”.
“It’s like puberty for him, he’s kind of a rebel,” Dardai told Bild. “He has to work and learn like an animal.”
Meanwhile, when asked about Guendouzi’s temperament, Arsenal legend Emmanuel Petit said recently: “I think things happened too quickly for Guendouzi at a time where he wasn’t strong enough mentally.
“Guendouzi has a volcanic personality. He was called up to the French national team after a good run in the Arsenal team, but I didn’t see him have a very good game in that spell.
“He did OK in games, but as soon as he went to the national team, he changed on the pitch.
“He’s had arguments with referees, opponents, sometimes his own teammates, and I think this is something he has to control. If you want to reach the highest level and stay there, you have to control your emotions.”