Is Matteo Guendouzi in Mikel Arteta’s dog house?

Without a doubt, Matteo Guendouzi has been one of my favorite Arsenal players this season. The lad seems to give 100%, 100% of the time.
Yesterday, however, the young Frenchman was strangely missing from Mikel Arteta’s squad. Instead of being on the pitch or on the bench, Guendouzi was either in the stands or at home watching his teammates destroy Newcastle United 4-0.

So, what happened? Where was the 20-year-old midfielder? Why was he absent from yesterday’s team?

Well, stories out of London this morning report Matteo is in Arteta’s doghouse. According to both the the Daily Mirror and Telegraph, Guendouzi’s attitude and body language was not impressing either the manager or his coaching staff during the team’s training trip to Dubai. It is understood that an argument took place between Arteta and Guendouzi on the training pitch in Dubai, and continued later at the team’s hotel. Obviously, Mikel Arteta is the boss, and this did behavior did not sit well with him. So, now Matteo has to earn his way back into the squad. The Daily Telegraph is reporting the bust-up had to do with who had the better hair, Matteo or Mikel. Really?

This is an unfortunate story to be reported because the Dubai trip was designed to be a team builder, not a drama fest. Every member of the club needs to rally around what Arteta demands, both on and off the pitch. This is the only way to achieve further successes this season. Arteta’s approach showed through in the second half against Newcastle. The building blocks are there, but everyone, including Matteo Guendouzi, must understand who is in charge.

The Gunners need Matteo Guendouzi. The situation needs to be resolved, and the Frenchman needs to get on board because I’m confident Arteta will leave him behind for the good of the club, if necessary.

Cheers. Gunner1953