Matteo Guendouzi is facing a fight to save his Arsenal career.
Mikel Arteta dumped Guendouzi from the squad for Sunday’s clash with Newcastle as a clear warning to the 20-year-old midfielder.
Gunners boss Arteta was not happy with Guendouzi’s attitude in training in the mid-season break in Dubai and the France under-21 star paid a heavy price.
Arteta is determined to get tough and show who is boss and Guendouzi’s exclusion was the talk of the dressing room as the manager sent a strong message.
Arteta stresses that he picks his team based on levels and performances in training and that explains Guendouzi’s absence.
Guendouzi is a fans’ favourite but will have to convince Arteta that he is worth his place in the starting line-up.
Arteta knows that he will have to shake up his squad this summer and sacrifice players before he can buy and Guendouzi would attract interest if Arsenal decide to put him on the market.
Guendouzi is not a guaranteed starter but would raise a big fee should Arsenal cash in to help Arteta shake up the squad this summer.
They will have limited funds this summer with Arteta looking to strengthen in most departments.
But he also faces a battle to keep Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette if they do not reach the Champions League.
A beneficiary of Guendouzi's absence on Sunday was on-loan Dani Ceballos, hailed by Arteta following a fine display.
"Dani Ceballos is a good example. He was injured and when he started to train I didn’t think he was fit enough.
"He completely changed his behaviour and trained like an animal. I thought he was the best player on the pitch."
