Arsenal signed 12 players when Unai Emery was in charge at the Emirates between 2018 and 2019, and Gabriel Martinelli, William Saliba and Kieran Tierney [currently on loan at Real Sociedad] are the only ones still with the Gunners.
In his first window at the north London club, the Spaniard signed Matteo Guendouzi from FC Lorient and the midfielder spent four years at Arsenal before leaving them for Marseille in 2022.
The former Arsenal man joined Lazio in the last window and talked about his move to the Serie A side during an interview with Il Messaggero, relayed by Cittaceleste.
The France international was also asked about his admiration for the Premier League side.
“In France, Arsenal is very popular, because many Frenchmen have played there: Pires, Henry, and Wenger on the bench,” he said.
Il Messaggero then asked him if Arsenal are still his favourite team and when responding to that, he revealed the details over his move to the Emirates.
“As a child, yes. And when there was the possibility to move, I had no doubts, even though I had other options. Emery did everything to have me,” Guendouzi explained.
Arsenal showed Emery the exit door in November 2019 and replaced him with Mikel Arteta a month later. The 24-year-old wasn’t favoured by the current Gunners manager.
When asked if things ‘didn’t go well’ with Arteta and Mickaël Landreau at Lorient, he said: “But it’s not true, I also played with them, but then they took other paths. My character allowed me to become a footballer, to be here and to conquer France. Now I’ve also changed a little, I have learned from the mistakes of my youth. I am less instinctive, more of a man, a family man.”
Guendouzi managed a goal and five assists from 82 games for Arsenal.
