Mikel Arteta left Mattéo Guendouzi out of his plans at Arsenal and therefore, he has been out on loan since the start of the 2020/21 season.
After finishing the previous campaign with Hertha Berlin, the Gunners let the midfielder join Marseille on a temporary deal.
The 22-year-old has excelled this season, managing three goals and five assists in the league.
L’Equipe on Wednesday explain the France international has never been ‘so decisive’ as he is now.
Focusing on the Arsenal owned player’s performances for Marseille, the report states ‘never before had he created so many chances and had so much influence on his team’s play in the last thirty metres’.
It’s said Guendouzi’s displays have improved mainly because of Jorge Sampaoli and the ‘two passionate men, adore each other’. The newspaper states one of the easiest ways to find it out is by looking at the minutes played by the midfielder.
The former Lorient man was a misfit at the Emirates under Arteta, but has managed to turn things around at Marseille, thanks to his coach.
Guendouzi feels his manager’s confidence and even ‘feeds on it’ to give it back to him by ‘revealing natural qualities that had been a little dormant until then’. The Arsenal owned player’s versatility allows the Argentine coach to use him either as No.8 or No.6.
According to L’Equipe, Sampaoli appreciates this kind of versatility. The player has also continued to work with two personal coaches, one directly on his game and fitness and the other dealing with the mental aspects of the job.
It’s clear Guendouzi is enjoying life at Marseille and has the full confidence of his manager, something he didn’t have under Arteta at Arsenal. There are reasons for that, largely down to the Frenchman, and it would appear he’s perhaps finally growing up.
