Mikel Arteta has attempted to improve the culture at Arsenal and create a level of accountability within the group. Players have left the club over the course of his tenure to an extent where only three players that didn’t graduate from the Hale End academy and were signed prior to the Spaniard’s arrival played in the 2-1 Brentford win.
Arteta has seen players such as Mesut Ozil, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and more leave Arsenal, not due to their lack of quality, but because they failed to meet his expectations at the club.
Matteo Guendouzi seemingly also fell into this category but is making the Gunners manager look regretfully at what could have been with his performances for Marseille this season.
The French club have an €11m (£9.5m) option on the France international football.london understands, a figure far lower than his current market value.
It is clear that the exile from the club and diminishing contract at Arsenal has seriously impacted what the club would make from Guendouzi's sale.
However, interestingly, Arteta appears to be turning a corner in this regard to try not to see the value of possible future sales diminished by either his words in interviews or a lack of opportunity on the field.
Nicolas Pepe’s situation at Arsenal continues to look unstable. football.london understands that the player was to consider his options in the winter window just gone were his status in the side not to improve.
However, a combination of participation at the African Cup of Nations and a lack of concrete offers meant he has stayed with the club. Marseille and Lyon reportedly made enquiries about the Ivorian though and could return in the summer.
When asked about Pepe’s future, despite a lack of opportunities being afforded to the 26-year-old, Mikel Arteta answered in a hopeful manner.
"I hope he does [stay], but I understand that when a player doesn’t play, he is disappointed.
"Nico has been disappointed because he wanted to have more minutes, but hopefully he can play many more minutes and he can contribute to the team because he has the ability to do it.
"He had a brilliant end of the season last year. He can replicate that.
"We need him at his best because everybody is going to contribute. We are a really short squad at the moment, and we need it and hopefully, he has understood that we want to play him.
"I don’t want to have a player like him sitting on the bench and not using him and the moment I have chances I want to give him a chance."
This is a pleasing sign from Arteta. It provides optimism that Arsenal will attempt to be more proactive in speaking about players who could earn them a significant financial benefit in the summer months.
Vinai Venkatesham mentioned during the recent Fan’s Forum that in the coming weeks will see the publication of the “enormous loss” financially in the latest accounts.
It is not surprising this is the case with the pandemic and lack of sales. However the latter is something the club needs to get a hand on and hopefully this provides an indication of the social element to tackle the issue.
Make sure you have subscribed to The Arsenal Way! The Fan Brands team along with plenty of your football.london favourites will be producing daily Arsenal content for you to enjoy including match reactions, podcasts, football fun and interviews. You can follow Tom Canton from the TAW team to keep up to date with his work.
