Aston Villa have been linked with Lazio midfielder Matteo Guendouzi heavily over recent weeks, with former manager Mikel Arteta previously having a lot to say about the Frenchman.
The rumour mill at Villa has heated up in recent weeks. Both Unai Emery and Monchi are searching for ideal signings that could help upgrade their team for the 2024/25 campaign.
One such player who has recently been linked is Guendouzi. The former Arsenal player was once under the wing of Emery but has since made his trade in central Europe.
Now playing for Italian side Lazio, Villa were believed to have put in a bid for Guendouzi in hopes of luring him to Villa Park.
However, the midfielder has a mixed past in England with former manager Arteta previously falling out with the Frenchman.
In this article, you can explore what went down between Arteta and Guendouzi and how it may be a sign of what to expect from the potential Villa signing.
Mikel Arteta and Matteo Guendouzi fell out at Arsenal
When Arteta joined the Gunners back in 2019, he was ruthless. Any player that did not fit into his plans were cast aside in order to build his project.
This has clearly worked in his favour, with Arsenal now regularly competing for the Premier League title, just missing out on the final day during the 2023/24 campaign.
However, one relationship that never blossomed was with Guendouzi. The pair fell out in February 2020 which resulted in the midfielder’s exclusion from the 18-man squad.
Arteta told the press in the aftermath that: “I don’t want people hiding. I want people taking responsibility for the job. Anybody that doesn’t buy into this is not good enough for this environment or culture.
“The players have to accept a different process, a different way of thinking. If we don’t have the right culture the tree is going to shake.”
The attitude of Guendouzi was questioned by Arteta. In June 2020, he was axed from the first team altogether after grabbing Neal Maupay’s throat against Brighton. This eventually led to his loan and departure from the club in 2022.
Read more: Everything you need to know about Matteo Guendouzi ahead of his potential move to Aston Villa.
Matteo Guendouzi insists that he is now more mature
Despite his shortcomings at Arsenal, Guendouzi enjoyed a solid career at the Gunners. The midfielder lifted the FA Cup and finished runners-up in the Europa League.
With his attitude problems ultimately being his downfall, Guendouzi recently admitted that he made a mistake while at the Gunners. However, now that he is older, he is now more mature.
Speaking to The Athletic in March 2024, he said: “I didn’t work with Arteta a lot, I only had six months.
“I was 19, so I was learning every day. I wouldn’t make the same mistakes I did when I was 19. But in football, every day you learn and mistakes are part of football. Mistakes are part of life. You become a better man and a better footballer with mistakes. For me, it was a very good club because I played a lot.
“Arteta is doing a very good job at Arsenal, they are fighting for the title, they are a very good team and he’s doing amazing things. I hope they will get a trophy because Arsenal is a big club. I wish the best for them.”
Unai Emery can get the best out of Matteo Guendouzi
If Douglas Luiz is to leave Villa, Guendouzi would not be a bad replacement. It is likely that the midfielder pairing will still be John McGinn and Boubacar Kamara when he returns from injury.
Therefore, bringing in someone like Guendouzi who Emery knows very well could potentially lead to a good transfer.
The Frenchman is still only young and is yet to hit his peak. Yet, he has consistently played for some of the biggest sides in Europe.
With Guendouzi boasting regular experience in Europe, the midfielder could be an exceptional option for the 2024/25 campaign onwards.
Emery just needs to ensure that the midfielder’s attitude does not affect the squad or his performance.
