Loaned-out Arsenal player nailed a ‘natural leader’ – but Edu has already agreed to sell him

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Arsenal have been making some fantastic moves in the transfer market of late, but there is potential for Matteo Guendouzi to leave them red-faced.

The likes of Aaron Ramsdale, Ben White, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Martin Odegaard are thriving, with Edu fending off many of his doubters.

Some decisions still divide opinion though, and the decision to axe Guendouzi is one of them.

There were such high hopes for Guendouzi. Snapped up from Lorient in 2018, Guendouzi showed huge potential under Unai Emery.

A talented midfielder on the ball and a player praised by Gary Neville as a ‘big character’ and a ‘leader’, Guendouzi appeared to be on his way to Arsenal stardom.

That hasn’t happened though.

Guendouzi fell out of Mikel Arteta’s plans and ended up spending last season on loan at Hertha Berlin.

This term, Guendouzi is again out on loan, but his deal with Marseille can turn permanent for €11million (£9.2million) this summer.

Guendouzi is impressing at Marseille, so there is a strong chance the Ligue 1 do activate that clause at the end of the season.

Marseille boss Jorge Sampaoli has now been speaking about Guendouzi, raving about the French loanee.

Speaking to La Provence, Sampaoli has praised Guendouzi’s energy, branding him a ‘natural leader’ thanks to his will to win.

Sampaoli thinks Guendouzi is really mature for 22, something Arsenal may argue against after his time at the club.

“Apart from his young age, Mattéo has a particular energy, he has a desire to win and is a natural leader,” We imagined that but over time, seeing him, in addition to the performance, we see an energy that everyone the world can envy us. It’s contagious and it’s a very important value in life. “

“Experience is important for everyone, but for young people, sometimes difficulties are not good experiences. There is also personal capacity, the mind. Guendouzi for example, he is 22 years old but it looks like he has 30. The most important thing is maturity,” he added.

There appears to be no way back for Guendouzi at Arsenal, with Arteta seemingly done with him.

With Guendouzi thriving at Marseille though, there is a real chance for him to build himself back up and leave Arsenal embarrassed, just as Serge Gnabry did.