It would be a fair assumption that the relationship between Matteo Guendouzi and Arsenal is a fractured one. Although, perhaps it would be more accurate to point toward the young Frenchman’s interactions with manager Mikel Arteta being the sore spot.
Arsenal allowed Guendouzi to join Marseille on a loan with a lowly buy option, that has since been activated, with little interest in him from elsewhere at the time. A brilliant season in midfield however has elevated Guendouzi to a position to cause the Gunners some regret over losing the talented 23-year-old.
Joining him at Marseille for the season was William Saliba. The French defender had a similarly difficult time with Arteta having been told he was not yet ready for the Arsenal first team and was sent on loan to Nice before his spell with OM.
READ MORE: 'Bullied' William Saliba faces up to France criticism as Arsenal loanee makes decision on future
Accompanying Guendouzi, there were fears that maybe the influence of his Arsenal teammate could sway the player to turn his back on the Gunners and Mikel Arteta like the former Lorient man did. In interviews at the end of the season, it seemed this might have been a possibility.
Guendouzi even came out publicly towards the end of the campaign in an attempt to convince Saliba to stay with Marseille. Stating that Saliba ‘deserves’ what had occurred during the strong year in France and earning a call-up to the national side.
“I hope William stays here. He's having a great season; he deserves everything that has happened to him. He's a great guy outside, he's had a lot of great games," Guendouzi said.
However, this attempt ultimately failed with Saliba effectively confirming his short-term future remained with Arsenal. In an interview with Telefoot, he explained how he wants to show the Gunners faithful what he can do after not yet playing.
"I belong to Arsenal. I still have two years left. I will be back with Arsenal. I have played zero matches, and I still want to show them my true face and have the chance to play for these fans and this great club,” he said speaking with Julien Maynard on the French television station.
Arteta will be grateful to see the support of Saliba after having already publicly backed him to return. Detailing further the reason behind the loan abroad instead of earlier integration.
“He has to come back,” Mikel Arteta told RMC Sport. “He has the experience and the necessary environment to be competitive with us. If he had stayed with us this year, with one Premier League game a week and with Ben White and Gabriel, he wouldn’t have had half the game time he had with Marseille, that’s for sure.”
He will join Ben White, Gabriel Magalhaes and Rob Holding in defence and with the Europa League will have plenty of opportunities through rotation and substitution to try and earn a more regular starting place. Based on his performances in France, the potential to achieve that is certainly there.
