Mattéo Guendouzi

[thebigbangtheo]

I'm sure it was on one of the YouTube channels (AFTV, TGT, Highbury Squad etc) that I initially mentioned this a while ago, but if it was in fact GW then I apologise for being unnecessarily repetatative.

I am of the opinion that some of the issue that Arteta has with Guendouzi and his like stems from himself having been a solid pro at the top level of the game if not as Mr. Terrence Henry would put it, the top top, top level.

The peak years of his playing career were spent at Everton who with all respect, rarely even glimpsed the highest echelons of the game back then, and why his arriving at Arsenal was like a validation of his own self belief that he was indeed good enough to be on the same pitch as some of the big hitters in the Champions League never mind those players who regularly were, that nowadays would be labelled as pubbers or farmers.

Remember, his peers were dominating club and international world football whilst he was like the kid who is last pick (technically not a pick) from the 20 boys lined up and met with murmerings and groans upon the 19th kid getting chosen.

That his donning of the cannon on his chest came 5 years too late is one thing, but that its weight left an impression on his heart like a tattoo, I have no doubts.

That being the case, to then watch this man cub be given opportunities he himself would have killed for, and then nonchalantly throw them away and act as though another one will be along in a minute or two like he's in a tube station, is probably a level of petulance that only his professionalism restrained him from ultimately receiving a police charge of GBH.

Similarly, when an academy graduate has an issue with playing for Arsenal in a full back position instead of their preferred or accustomed position, that it doesn't sit well with the Spaniard was always going to be the conclusion.

[Yago]

Wow, what an opinion. I'm in awe.

[Callum]

Almost as if it's a player problem, and not Arteta randomly not liking Guendouzi.

[Rockape]

Almost as if it's a player problem, and not Arteta randomly not liking Guendouzi.

You mean, that's even possible??

[Highbury Hillbilly]

Why does this guy have so many fans on here?

Saliba appears to be doing very well at Nice and yet his thread is rarely bumped. This one is always a popular topic somehow, despite Hertha not even wanting him to stay on.

I've criticized Arteta for publicly exiling him and killing any chance of profiting on a sale. But otherwise, the loan deal made sense. He wasn't going to get game time here with Xhaka, Elneny, Ceballos and Partey all ahead of him.

[Rockape]

Saliba appears to be doing very well at Nice and yet his thread is rarely bumped

Did Saliba actually make any 1st team appearances?

Obviously Guendouzi made plenty and then he shot himself in the foot. He might be a d***head, but at least he's interesting!

[Angelito]

Oh, calm your tits. Not everything is an arrow towards Arteta, nor does every thing Arteta do has to be the greatest thing to have happened to Arsenal since Anfield '89.

You people criminally overlook what one of the greatest managers in the history of the game achieved with Arsenal, without sugar-daddy owners or the FA/UEFA/Refs orgasming over our "downfall."

The English media was busy moaning about how we're akin to a "foreign" club when we made it to the final in 2006.

Meh.

Guendouzi, under SAF, would have either delivered or would have been silenced. Under Wenger, he'd have turned into a top CM. Pep? He'd have sold him for £6m and would have bought a replacement for £50m. Under Simeone/Klopp, he'd have been their grafter. Conte would have written a romantic letter asking him to eff off.

Different managers handle issues differently. With Arteta, his management, or mismanagement, of Saliba, Ozil, Guendouzi, and now Martinelli works against him. If he rectifies that, nobody would have an issue with what he does with players—whether that player is Robben or Ramsey.

There's no precedence with Arteta. Everything he did or does is what we've seen since he's joined Arsenal. If we win the EL, he'd have his own chapter in Arsenal's folklore. If we don't, well, tough luck.

Otherism is killing this fanbase. It's rich coming from fans of a club that's just seen it's worst season in three decades. And, loves to undermine other European clubs, especially when there is no European 'eritage here.

[Highbury Hillbilly]

Saliba appears to be doing very well at Nice and yet his thread is rarely bumped

Did Saliba actually make any 1st team appearances?

Obviously Guendouzi made plenty and then he shot himself in the foot. He might be a d***head, but at least he's interesting!

Precisely. We've had 2 seasons of Guendouzi and he really hasn't done much. His main asset seems to be his big hair and pashun. Saliba's defensive stats for Nice are very good, and we could definitely use a young CB with significant senior-level experience.

I just don't see much about Geundouzi to get excited about.

[Power n Glory]

Hertha Berlin don't want to keep him.

https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/news/arsenal-guendouzi-transfer-hertha-berlin-20214467

[BexleyGooner]

It obviously isn’t Arteta, the blokes got a major attitude problem

[Godlop]

He clearly has an attitude problem, but Pál Dárdai is doing an awful job at Hertha.

[billie86]

Can we bring him back and play him at the side of partey instead of xhaka?

[Rockape]

Can we bring him back and play him at the side of partey instead of xhaka?

No

[Ach]

Would be the sensible thing to do

[thebigbangtheo]

Can we bring him back and play him at the side of partey instead of xhaka?

Yes, without a doubt as far as I'm concerned.

The only cons that come to mind in deliberating the notion, are that Guendouzi hasn't yet proven a defensive discipline to equally allow Partey to just play his natural b2b game without worry that his partner might suddenly be up with or even ahead of him in an attack instead of anchoring the midfield, and that the pivotal two in the 4-2-3-1 are under threat of being superceded by a more fluid and efficient three in midfield set up.

Undoubtedly clubs will be encouraged by the ineptitude displayed by such ham-fisted handling of Serge Gnabry, but my hope is that Guendouzi at least returns to the Emirates to be in the manager's office for a one-on-one, with an outcome matching that of the culminating encounter between Lou Gosset Jr and Richard Gere in 'An Officer and a Gentleman'.