Contract extension plan for controversial, axed Arsenal man Arteta wants out
Arsenal are planning to extend the contract of Matteo Guendouzi despite the midfielder’s bleak future at The Emirates.
Guendouzi, 22, fell out with with Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta and was loaned to Hertha Berlin in October.
The Frenchman spent the whole season in the Bundesliga and made 24 appearances, scoring twice. He is due back at the club this summer and has just 12 months remaining on his contract.
Guendouzi has always maintained he would return to The Emirates to try and revive his career in the capital.
Asked by France Football if his Arsenal career was over, Guendouzi said in March: “Not at all. I am focused on my season at Hertha Berlin.
“Then, we will have a meeting with my entourage and the people of the club to ask and discuss the future. I am still an Arsenal player. This summer will be decisive.”
The midfielder has not played for the Gunners since an ugly on-field altercation with Brighton striker Neal Maupay shortly after football returned in June 2020.
The Daily Mail claimed Guendouzi made tasteless insults to Brighton players. He is alleged to have “spent the game taunting Brighton players about the financial disparity between the squads”.
That paved the way for Arteta to bundle Guendouzi out of the door. And Arteta is understood to be keen to sell the player permanently this summer.
Marseille have been linked with a move for the player. While RMC Sport claim the Gunners are keen to extend Guendouzi’s contract by 12 months in order to maximise his value.
The French outlet suggest that triggering Guendouzi’s extension could earn them as much as €10m more on his transfer value, with Marseille ready to make a move
Former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit has urged Guendouzi to show more respect.
“I think things happened too quickly for Guendouzi at a time where he wasn’t strong enough mentally,” he said in April.
“Guendouzi has a volcanic personality. He was called up to the French national team after a good run in the Arsenal team, but I didn’t see him have a very good game in that spell.
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Guendouzi urged to ‘shut your mouth’
“He did OK in games, but as soon as he went to the national team, he changed on the pitch.
“He’s had arguments with referees, opponents, sometimes his own teammates, and I think this is something he has to control. If you want to reach the highest level and stay there, you have to control your emotions.
“He needs to realise this and adapt very quickly because I think he still has qualities and can bring something to Arsenal.
“When you can’t control your emotions, it’s very hard for your teammates to work with you. It’s hard for your fans to back you and it’s hard to keep out of the press limelight.
“But most importantly it’s hard for your manager to pick you. I remember he had a fight with Mikel Arteta. After that we didn’t see him again in an Arsenal shirt.
“You need to keep it in mind that at the end of the day you are just a player. Until you are the best player in the world, which you are not, you shut your mouth and keep working hard and respecting others.”
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