Matteo Guendouzi explains decision to leave Arsenal

Marseille midfielder Matteo Guendouzi has said that he had no option but to leave Arsenal after receiving no assurances of playing time.

The Frenchman was a key player for the Gunners back in 2019/2020, but did not feature again after an incident where he grabbed Neal Maupay's neck.

While he escaped any punishment from the FA, manager Mikel Arteta made it clear that he no longer had a future at the north London club.

In the following season, he spent on loan with Hertha BSV before moving on to Marseille on another temporary stint with an obligation to buy.

Speaking to GQ, Guendouzi has now said that it was hard to leave Arsenal as he had a special connection due to the success of French players.

He said: "It was hard to leave Arsenal because I had a special connection to that club, like a lot of young French player who saw Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira ."

He added that he gave his best for the Gunners and decided to move on when it was clear that he no longer had the game time he wanted.