Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi has admitted that the decision to leave the club for Marseille was the ‘best choice’ he has made in a ‘long time’.
The former Lorient man joined the Ligue 1 outfit on a season-long loan deal in the summer and has so far caught the eye at the Stade Velodrome.
He has made 17 appearances in all competitions, scoring three goals. His form in France has also been good enough to see Guendouzi rewarded with his debut for the French national team during the latest international break.
The decision to let the 22-year-old leave the Emirates Stadium had some supporters split, with the midfielder having impressed over his 82 Arsenal appearances before he was then dropped by Mikel Arteta.
He then joined Hertha BSC for the 2020/21 campaign ahead of his temporary switch to Marseille. Guendouzi has admitted that joining the club was one of the better decisions he has made during his fledgling career thus far.
Talking to Telefoot, he said: “From the first conversation I had with [Jorge] Sampaoli and the president, Longoria, I knew this was the club that was made for me. I knew it was this club, this project, and I think it’s the best choice I could have made in a long time.”
Guendouzi’s recent comments are not the first time that he has hailed his decision to leave Arsenal.
Talking earlier this month, the Frenchman admitted that he was eyeing a permanent switch back to his homeland - a prospect that could come to fruition with Marseille holding an option to buy following the conclusion of his loan.
Speaking to RMC Sport, he said: "Today, I am on loan and still bound by my contract at Arsenal. But I'm totally focused on what to do with Olympique de Marseille.
"And yes, it's a club with which I want to project myself into the future and I want to join in the long term.
"These are discussions that I had already had with the club before signing and I feel very comfortable there. And that's why I want to continue to have fun at Olympique de Marseille."
Guendouzi’s current Arsenal contract is set to run until the summer of 2023.
