Speaking recently on the Ask Ornstein YouTube show, David Ornstein discussed the future of Arsenal midfielder, Matteo Guendouzi.
Since arriving at Arsenal from FC Lorient in what was a £7.2 million deal back in 2018, Guendouzi has gone on to feature 82 times for the Gunners, chipping in with one goal and providing five assists along the way.
However, last season, the £28.8 million-rated 21-year-old did not feature for Arsenal over their last eight Premier League matches, after he reportedly taunted Brighton & Hove Albion players about their salaries in Arsenal’s 2-1 loss to the club back in June, leaving Mikel Arteta ‘deeply unimpressed‘ with the Frenchman.
It has been reported that Arteta has been looking to sell the midfielder during the current transfer window, however, with only a matter of days remaining until the transfer deadline, Guendouzi still remains at the club.
This was a topic of conversation on a recent episode of the Ask Ornstein YouTube show, with Ornstein stating, in response to a question as to whether the journalist felt Guendouzi could work his way back into Arteta’s first-team plans, that if the 21-year-old is not sold in the current window, then Arsenal will likely look to move him on in the January transfer window.
He said: “I do think there’s been plenty of interest in him from other clubs, but it hasn’t escalated into concrete offers, or more so, from Arsenal’s perspective, acceptable ones.
“If that was to change before the deadline, then, of course, it might be deemed desirable for all parties that he moves on.
“Mikel Arteta has said, publicly at least, that this season is a clean slate, a fresh opportunity for all players, so presumably, that includes the likes of Guendouzi, [Mesut] Ozil, [Lucas] Torreira [and] Sokratis [Papastathopoulos].
“I think he’s very conscious of squad harmony and we have seen Guendouzi return to the first team training set-up, just not on a matchday basis so far.
“I think there are some bridges that would need to be rebuilt [and] there does seem an element of distrust on both sides.
“Arsenal will want to see him reaching the standards that Mikel Arteta expects of all players on a consistent basis and we do know that Arsenal are looking to recruit in central midfield – his area of the pitch.
“You might say, ‘well, could he be a backup option to those players, or an option if they aren’t signed?’ But I don’t think we’re at that stage just yet.
“If the window closes and Guendouzi is still at the Emirates Stadium, of course, never say never, but I suspect that Arsenal and Guendouzi would then have an eye on January or next summer.”
Do you think that Guendouzi will be sold before the transfer window closes?
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TIF Thoughts…
From Ornstein’s comments, it is clear that the journalist is of the belief that Guendouzi could still secure a move away from Arsenal prior to the transfer window’s closure early next week.
Furthermore, it would also appear as if Ornstein feels that even if a move does not materialise for the midfielder in the current window, then both the player and the club will turn their attention to the January transfer window.
All in all, it would seem as if the journalist is of the opinion that Guendouzi’s future at Arsenal looks pretty bleak, so we will have to see if the midfielder does manage to leave the club prior to the transfer window slamming shut on Monday.