Arsenal loanee Matteo Guendouzi says it hurt not playing for the club but his spell at Hertha Berlin is helping him regain his confidence.
The 21-year-old was jettisoned from the Gunners squad after clashing with Neal Maupay following a 2-1 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion in June.
The Frenchman escaped punishment from the FA for grabbing Maupay by the throat but he consequently fell out of favour with boss Mikel Arteta.
After a lack of game time for Arsenal, the midfielder was loaned out to the German outfit in October, and has since played in three games for the Bundesliga side.
Guendouzi was contemplating his future after falling down the pecking order at the Emirates, but he seems reinvigorated once more at Hertha.
"I needed to have fun on the pitch, to regain confidence and that's what Hertha offers me. It really is a choice I made," he told Telefoot.
"In the space of two seasons I have played more than 80 games with Arsenal.
"When you play less, you start to think and it hurts."
Guendouzi, who has played for France at under-18 to under-21 level, also wants to become a full France international soon.
"It was a dream since I was little. Being part of it was wonderful," he added.
"I still have in the back of my mind to earn a lot more selections, and to be important in the future."
Guendouzi is still under contract at Arsenal until 2022, but club legend Kevin Campbell believes his time at the club is up.
“He doesn't have a future at Arsenal. Mikel Arteta put him in detention after the Brighton game last season, that is what it was – detention," Campbell said earlier this month.
“A manager like Arteta wants to see that you can toe the line, take your punishment, keep your trap shut and get working. Guendouzi could not do it."
Guendouzi will be back in action with Hertha when they take in a trip to Bayer Leverkusen next weekend.
