Matteo Guendouzi who is nearing a move to join French outfit Olympique Marseille was worried about Arsenal’s future after a horrible season. The Gunners finished in the eighth position in the Premier League and as a result, they won’t be getting any European football in the upcoming season.
Mikel Arteta and his men are hoping to bounce back stronger in the next season and finish at least in the top four. The management has already started recruiting players like Nuno Tavares from Benfica and is closing in on signing Albert Sambi Lokonga from Anderlecht. Guendouzi who spent his last season on loan at Hertha Berlin will not be a part of the Gunners next season. The French youngster is set to join Marseille. But he hopes that Arsenal returns to the Champions League next season as he believes that it is where the Gunners belong.
“To see that the club failed to qualify for a European competition for the first time in 25 years hurts deeply. That affects me emotionally a lot,” he said to Bild.
“Arsenal are a big club in Europe that deserve to be in the Champions League every year. That’s normal for me, an institution like this deserves only the best.
“Arsenal must return to where it belongs. I don’t know the reasons for the failure because I wasn’t there last season. But I’m concerned about the club’s situation because Arsenal deserve great things. I am a Gunner from the bottom of my heart and will remain so, no matter what.”
Guendouzi joined Arsenal in 2018 from Lorient and made some positive noises at the Emirates and among the fans. But he spent the entire last season on loan in the Bundesliga. In the upcoming season also he is unlikely to return to North London as rumours suggest that he will be joining Marseille alongside Arsenal defender William Saliba.
However, when asked about details on his future, Guendouzi was pretty tight-lipped. The youngster wanted to put more focus on getting fitter.
“I’m under contract with Arsenal and we have mutual obligations. There is interest from clubs from different leagues,” he said.
“Right now I’m 100 percent focused on my recovery. In due time, I will decide with my advisors and my father which direction we are going.”
