Thread on Matteo Guendouzi's situation

Strengths:

Excellent ball progressor & sets the tempo well, expansive passing range, positive dribbler if needed.

Weaknesses:

Defensively/positionally naïve, not built (physically), doesn't offer much
goal threat (not essential)

(1/6)

MAJOR WEAKNESS: His attitude. Clashed with Arteta in the Dubai camp, acted out at full time with Neal Maupay, there's many instances and these aren't just isolated.

Now, I really rate him as a player and we have to remember he's only 21 - has a bright future in the game (2/6)

But the moment a player decides not to buy into a manager's ideals & become a nuisance, what more can you do? He can't expect to play every game as he has flaws that need to be ironed out. He's very competitive but too many times, he lets it manifest as petulance. (3/6)

Ideal scenario is he gets his head down & focuses, as Arteta says, the door is always open. Arteta is doing the right things with him, he needs a stern figure to teach him how to behave. If he thinks this is bad, imagine if he steps out of line under Conte at Inter Milan. (4/6)

There's a reason all these top clubs are interested in him, he can become an immense player. I want him to succeed here but he is making it difficult. If he is set on leaving, get £50-60m on him rather than €40m and splash it on a proper all rounder. Attitude is poor. (5/6)

Players I'd consider to replace Guendouzi's void in the squad (some #8, others deeper players):

• One of John McGinn or Jack Grealish
• Lorenzo Pellegrini
• (unlikely) Bruno Guimarães
• Kalvin Phillips
• Dominik Szoboszlai
• Houssem Aouar

(6/6)

That concludes my thoughts on the whole situation. It's really a tough one, man. But I want players that want to play for Arsenal and are class on and off the pitch in all aspects.

There's 2 things I forgot to add to the thread.

A key issue with Guendouzi is, we don't know if he's a #6 or a #8, this positional confusion doesn't help either.

2nd thing is, I missed a transfer target/profile that we could. Boubakary Soumaré would be an excellent replacement