Why Guendouzi has turned his career around after Arsenal nightmare
Robin Bairner
- 2 Mar 2022 11:47 GMT
- 3 min read
Matteo Guendouzi will complete a summer transfer from Arsenal to Marseille, with the details of the deal all finalised.
Guendouzi was loaned to the Ligue 1 club in 2021, with the probability that the deal would be made a full-time one.
The midfielder arrived with a reputation for having a fiery temper, and while there have been occasions that has been evident, OM supporters have generally seen the best of the 22-year-old.
Indeed, Guendouzi has performed so well for Marseille that he has been given international honours for the first time and, RMC reports, will be signed by the club permanently.
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Guendouzi happy in Marseille
So why has it worked in Ligue 1 but not in the Premier League?
Marseille delivering on a promise to make him an important member of their teams seems to be one of the main catalysts for Guendouzi’s resurgence this season.
Asked why he left Arsenal, he explained to RMC: “It was a carefully considered choice. There were talks with the president, the coach and people in my family. We came together to make the best decision. For me, it’s the best choice I’ve made in years.
“President Longoria and coach Jorge Sampaoli are the people who presented the project to me and who made me want to come. We talked about the OM project, what I could bring to the team, how I was going to be able to grow. I knew that by coming here, I knew I was going to be able to step up a level and continue to improve, both as a person and a footballer.”
According to leading data analytics company SciSports, Guendouzi had the potential to grow into a key player at Arsenal, though his present skill status means that he would only have been considered a rotation player at present – something that clearly would have frustrated him.
Moreover, he was known to have a tempestuous relationship with manager Mikel Arteta, which led to him being sent on loan to Hertha BSC in the Bundesliga last season.
Guendouzi has already signed a three-year deal with Marseille and will end his association with Arsenal in the summer.
