Mikel Arteta had ‘real problem’ with Arsenal player and his ‘stinking’ attitude | Football

Darren Bent has revealed Mikel Arteta had a ‘real problem’ with a former Arsenal player and his ‘stinking’ attitude.

Arteta made a degree of eliminating supposed bad eggs when he returned to former club Arsenal to take over as manager in December 2019.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was infamously stripped of the Arsenal captaincy before being released in February 2022.

But Arteta was similarly brutal with Matteo Guendouzi, who his predecessor Unai Emery signed in an £8m move from Lorient in 2018.

Emery described Guendouzi as a ‘talented young player’ with ‘big potential’ when he arrived on the Emirates Stadium and the midfielder featured repeatedly throughout the 2018-19 campaign, making 48 appearances in all competions.

But Guendouzi’s minutes began to dry up under Arteta and the France international was excluded from training and omitted of Arsenal’s squad as a result of issues together with his ‘attitude and general conduct’.

Arsenal sent Guendouzi out on two loan moves before the 26-year-old accomplished a everlasting transfer to Marseille in the summertime of 2022.

‘Mikel Arteta got out Guendouzi, whose attitude was stinking,’ ex-England striker Bent said on talkSPORT. ‘That was an actual problem, from what I’ve heard.

‘I’m not obviously making these rumours up, but that is what I’ve heard that his attitude was poor, Guendouzi. So he obviously needed to go.’

It’s unattainable to argue that Arteta was not right to eliminate players he feltwould prevent Arsenal from competing for major trophies once more.

After a period of stagnation, Arsenal have finished as runners-up within the Premier League for the past three years and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League last season.

Arteta’s side sit top of the Premier League ahead of Saturday’s London derby against Fulham after defending champions Liverpool lost three games in a row.

Asked about Arsenal’s title aspirations, Bent told the Football Association: ‘I definitely think that Arsenal can win either the Premier League or the Champions League this season. I feel that is their time.

‘I take a look at the squad depth they’ve got and, finally, Arsenal have now got two excellent players for each position. We glance strong.

‘There have been times in recent seasons where if the likes of Saliba, Saka and Odegaard were injured, the wheels would completely fall off.

‘Now, unexpectedly, you take a look at the team and also you’re suddenly asking questions like: “Are these players going to get back within the team?”

‘Arsenal haven’t had that for such a protracted time, but they’ve now got the squad to compete on each fronts, not only pick one or the opposite.

‘I feel they will go deep within the Champions League where they got to the semi-finals last yr and I feel they will win the Premier League this yr. I actually do.’

While Arsenal return to motion against Fulham, who they took 4 points from last season, defending champions Liverpool face Manchester United at Anfield.

Arne Slot’s side won their first seven games of the season before suffering consecutive defeats to Crystal Palace, Galatasaray and Chelsea prior to the international break.

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