Matteo Guendouzi promises to ‘give everything’ to Arsenal once his loan at Hertha Berlin ends… with out-of-favour midfielder determined to win over Mikel Arteta at the Emirates
- Matteo Guendouzi is refusing to give up on his career as an Arsenal player
- The young Frenchman is currently on loan in Germany with Hertha Berlin
- Guendouzi knows the summer is a ‘decisive moment’ for his burgeoning career
Midfielder Matteo Guendouzi said he will try to fight his way back into Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta’s plans once his loan spell at Hertha Berlin comes to an end.
The 21-year-old was a regular under former Arsenal manager Unai Emery but was loaned out to the Bundesliga club in October by Arteta.
‘I am focused on my season with Hertha Berlin,’ Guendouzi, who has made 19 appearances this season, told France Football.
Midfielder Matteo Guendouzi, currently on loan at Hertha Berlin (left), has vowed to fight for his future at Arsenal (right) once he returns to north London at the end of the 2020-21 season
Guendouzi has plenty of work to do to get back in Mikel Arteta’s good books at the Emirates
‘Next, we will sit down with my entourage and people at the club to discuss the future. This summer will be a decisive moment.’
‘I belong to Arsenal for another year. From the moment that I am playing for Arsenal, I will give everything for the club, fans, team, and staff.
‘I will work hard for the shirt as I have always done.’
Guendouzi’s Arsenal contract expires at the end of next season and so the summer is set to provide an indication as to whether there is any future in north London.
Guendouzi’s spell in Germany has been far from straightforward after he was labelled a ‘rebel’
Hertha boss Pal Dardai claimed Guendouzi is currently going through football ‘puberty’
His loan in Germany has been far from smooth with Hertha Berlin boss Pal Dardai insisting Guendouzi has plenty to learn if he wants to have a long and successful career.
Dardai claimed the youngster is currently going through ‘football puberty’ in his scathing assessment.
Dardai told Bild: ‘It’s like puberty for him, he’s kind of a rebel. He has to work and learn like an animal.’
Former Arsenal head of recruitment Sven Mislintat, who signed Guendouzi from Lorient, came to the player’s defence and said he feels the midfielder has the ability to become a ‘monster’ who he believes would still be an asset to Arteta’s current Gunners squad.
‘If you’re not playing Matteo in midfield, it must be a very strong midfield,’ Mislintat told the Athletic. ‘As a teenager from Ligue 2, he played 48 games for Arsenal in his first season.
The Frenchman lost his head as Arsenal collapsed against Brighton in June last season
‘I assure you, you are not able to ‘survive’ that amount of Premier League caps playing “adolescent football”.
‘He obviously doesn’t get everything right but he plays with a decisiveness and quality that make him an extraordinary player. We want players who are brave on the ball, who can move past the pressure. Losing the odd ball is part of that.
‘You shouldn’t try to change his game but work on the details to improve him, if you are able to do so, you make him a “monster” midfielder. My personal opinion remains that Matteo would still add some extra qualities to Arsenal’s midfield.’
Guendouzi was left out by Arteta after clashing with Brighton players during a match last year where it was reported he made boasts about his wages.
