Matteo Guendouzi takes parting shot at Arsenal after confirming permanent move to Marseille

Matteo Guendouzi has taken one final swipe at Arsenal after claiming his permanent move to Marseille ‘is the best choice I’ve made in years.’

The 22-year-old joined Marseille on loan last summer and has impressed this season, having played 38 times in all competitions this term, scoring four goals and registering 11 assists in the process.

Marseille president Pablo Longoria told RMC Sport the France midfielder has penned a permanent deal at the Stade Velodrome until 2025, which will come into effect once his season-long loan deal expires in June.

Marseille president Pablo Longoria (right) said Guendouzi has penned a deal until 2025

Arsenal have been desperately trying to get Guendouzi off their books following his acrimonious falling out with boss Mikel Arteta back in the summer of 2020.

And Guendouzi – who spent the whole of last season on loan at Hertha Berlin – could not resist taking a parting shot at the Gunners, having now fulfilled all the relevant clauses allowing him to complete a £9million move to Marseille. 

‘It was a carefully considered choice,’ he told RMC Sport.

‘There were very good discussions with the president, with the coach and people in my family. We really made the best decision altogether. For me, it’s the best choice I’ve made in many years.

Guendouzi had been frozen out at Arsenal following a falling out with boss Mikel Arteta

Guendouzi said the permanent deal is the best decision he has made in years and said boss Jorge Sampaoli (above) convinced him

‘President Longoria and coach [Jorge] Sampaoli are the people who introduced me to the project and made me want to come. We talked about Marseille’s project, what I could bring to the team, how I was going to grow.

‘I found myself in this speech, I knew that when I came here, I was going to cross levels and continue to grow, whether it was humanly or football-wise.’

Guendouzi’s Arsenal contract was not due to expire until summer next year, but his future at the Emirates Stadium has appeared bleak ever since grabbing Brighton’s Neal Maupay by the throat in a 2-1 defeat at the Amex nearly two years ago.  

He also taunted Brighton’s players about his superior wages, after which he was excluded from the squad due to a ‘history of issues’ over his attitude and conduct.

Guendouzi has been an outcast at Arsenal since grabbing Neal Maupay by the throat in a defeat at Brighton in June 2020

That history is believed to be related to a mid-session altercation with one of his teammates during a warm-weather training camp in Dubai in February 2020.

Technical director Edu also reprimanded the Frenchman for inappropriate behaviour at an external event during their UAE trip.

Guendouzi was signed by Arsenal as a 19-year-old in July 2018 for a fee believed to be in the region of £8m, instantly becoming a favourite under Unai Emery and emerging as prominent figure in his first season.