Matteo Guendouzi has lavished praise on former Arsenal teammate Mesut Ozil.
Guendouzi sealed a second season-long loan move away from Arsenal on Tuesday after his move to Marseille was announced.
It was reported earlier in the summer that the 22-year-old’s relationship with Gunners boss Mikel Arteta was beyond repair and ‘totally ruptured’.
Another player to have fallen foul of Arteta is Ozil, whose contract in North London was terminated back in January.
The former Germany international hadn’t kicked a ball for Arsenal when football resumed last summer and couldn’t even make the squad during the first half of last season, prior to his release.
But Guendouzi is a massive fan of the now-Fenerbahce playmaker, labelling him ‘exceptional’ and a player who he looked up to during his time at the Emirates Stadium.
He told Bild: “Mesut Ozil is a great role model and a brother to me. I have the deepest respect for what he has achieved and what he has been doing since I’ve been at Arsenal.
“He has exceptional ball skills. For me, Ozil is clearly the best German player and he’s one of the best No. 10s in the history of German football. At Arsenal, he immediately took me under his wing and gave me a lot of tips.”
Like Ozil, it seems that there’s no way back for Guendouzi at Arsenal either.
Well, that’s so long as Arteta is there, but the Ligue 1 side reportedly have the option to sign the French midfielder – for only £9 million – so even if the Spanish coach leaves before the end of next season, his future at the Emirates Stadium still seems pretty gloomy.
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