Mikel Arteta insists he has been encouraged by Matteo Guendouzi’s reaction following crunch talks between the pair over the Arsenal midfielder’s future.
The 21-year-old featured prominently during the early weeks of Arteta’s tenure, but fell out of favour following a defeat at Brighton back in June during which he became embroiled in a controversial flash point with the Seagulls’ matchwinner Neal Maupay.
Guendouzi did not play a single minute thereafter and has been linked with a departure this summer. Interest in the France international has been limited, however, with PSG and Lyon both publicly distancing themselves from the player.
The former Lorient star is said to have turned down moves to the likes of Valencia, Villarreal and Atalanta and now appears set to feature for Arsenal this season having returned to first team training earlier this week.
‘Matteo has been training like any other player in the squad,’ said Arteta ahead of Saturday’s Premier League opener against Fulham.
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‘It is a new season and we had some really positive conversations between both parties, now he’s back with the group, he is training really well.
‘He went to France to play with the under-21s last week and played really well again, and he is here.’
‘But a lot of the things they have been writing, I can tell you they are not true.’
