Before lockdown he was considered to be one of the Gunners’ brightest sparks, now Mikel Arteta has poured cold water over that belief following the player’s seismic reaction to recent events.
Booted
Matteo Guendouzi has been kicked off the first team training ground, reported the Mirror, after manager and player fell out following the loss to Brighton.
The Frenchman has since been left out of the last four games and is now training alone.
This is not the first time Guendouzi has left Arteta miffed. There were reports of a minor bust-up during a trip to Dubai, and there’s no doubt that this is a player who can rub people up the wrong way.
Young
At just 21-years-old, the midfielder should be a bright spark and something to feel hopeful about for the future. He’s already got 82 appearances under his belt and has made the step up from the French second tier in his debut season in England.
Guendouzi also cares. He’s got a fire in his belly and he tries to drive the team on. But that looks like it’s been too much for Arsenal and Arteta, who are running out of patience with the youngster.
After a rapid rise, we’re seeing a similarly rapid fall. Of course, the Frenchman is still young enough to force his way back into the side. Maybe he needs a loan spell away from London to grow up, chill out and come back with a new head on his shoulders.
Grow Up
Or maybe he needs this time to reflect on the person he is, the player he is, and how to reconcile those two things while remaining in the manager’s good books.
Guendouzi definitely won’t want to move on now. Arteta looks like he’s building something nicely and Arsenal have got this young squad playing with vibrancy and togetherness.
For a long time Guendouzi was the only bright spark, but now he’s just one of many reasons Arsenal fans should be cheerful. But that could all change very quickly.