Emerging photos of Guendouzi will sicken Arteta at Arsenal – our view

Follow us on Google Discover

Matteo Guendouzi leaving Arsenal is a done deal at this stage.

Back in March, Marseille confirmed that they had purchased the France international for £9 million [talkSPORT].

Guendouzi hasn’t kicked a ball for Arsenal in almost two years after falling out with Gunners boss Mikel Arteta, who loaned him to Hertha Berlin last season and the Ligue 1 outfit this time around.

A report from L’Equipe last summer claimed that the 23-year-old’s relationship with the Spanish manager is ‘totally ruptured’.

There is clearly problems between Arteta and Guendouzi, reportedly stemming from the latter’s attitude in North London, and suffice to say emerging photographs of the Frenchman will sicken the 40-year-old coach.

That’s because on Saturday, Guendouzi helped Marseille qualify for the Champions League next season.

The French outfit hammered Strasbourg 4-0 to seal second place in Ligue 1 and, with it, book their return to Europe’s elite competition.

Guendouzi is one of the most passionate footballers around and the midfielder – who cost Arsenal £8 million under Unai Emery – certainly demonstrated his delight in such a way that’ll make Arteta a tad envious.

The youngster, who could go to the World Cup later this year, didn’t hold back one bit in his post-match celebrations, the like of which Arteta would’ve liked to do at the Emirates Stadium today.

Problem is, the North Londoners have suffered an end-of-season capitulation under the Spaniard which has all but killed the Gunners’ chances of joining Guendouzi’s Marseille in the Champions League for the 2022-23 campaign.

If Tottenham secure a point away to relegated Norwich City – with Harry Kane now fit again – it’ll condemn Arsenal to fifth place in the Premier League and everybody on the red half of the North London divide will know that it’s one place lower than they should’ve finished.

Arteta absolutely should’ve secured a top-four finish for the Emirates Stadium club this season, with the former Manchester City assistant the architecht of his downfall.

For weeks he’ll have been dreaming about the sort of scenes Guendouzi lived at the Velodrome last night and Arteta will be reminded that he himself could’ve led Arsenal back into the competition had he patched things up with the player rather than exile him.