Matteo Guendouzi sends firm reminder to Mikel Arteta after Arsenal's transfer failures

Matteo Guendouzi sent a message to Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta with his role in Marseille’s rearranged Ligue 1 clash against Lyon on Tuesday.

The central midfielder is enjoying a starring role for a resurgent Marseille this campaign and the Gunners loanee has been central in their top three position in the league.

The 22-year-old was ostracised by Arteta back in 2020 and is currently in his second loan spell away from the club – following a stint at Hertha Berlin – and looks set to join the French club permanently this summer.

The Frenchman had made 82 appearances for the North London side in all competitions and had looked set for a bright future at the club but is now in the second of two loan deals away from the Emirates.

Guendouzi opened the scoring in Tuesday night’s crunch league meeting against rivals Lyon in a fixture which was rearranged from earlier in the campaign due to crowd trouble, meaning this match was played behind closed doors.

A total of six players left Arteta’s first-team squad this month with no new additions – although Auston Trusty was signed from MLS side Colorado Rapids – with Guendouzi among those previously trimmed.

Guendouzi opened the scoring on Tuesday as he lost his marker in the Lyon penalty area to power home a header from Dimitri Payet’s corner in the 10 th minute.

Jorge Sampaoli’s side, who are flying high in third position in Ligue 1, were heavily fancied to win the game as Lyon had 11 players unavailable for the game.

Yet the depleted hosts fought back in the second half with former Liverpool playmaker Xherdan Shaqiri levelling with 15 minutes remaining before Lyon striker Moussa Dembele netted a late winner.

The result means that Marseille have not won a league fixture away