Mesut Ozil has played with the highest calibre of players during an illustrious career.
Having won back-to-back FA Cups with Arsenal, La Liga with Real Madrid, the 2014 World Cup with Germany and even a Europa League runners-up spot with Werder Bremen in 2009, it’s fair to say the 32-year-old has always been among the very best.
But when it comes to the most underrated name Ozil has played alongside, one man comes above the rest.
That name? Matteo Guendouzi.
Arsenal signed Guendouzi from Lorient in the summer of 2018, and he has gone on to make 82 appearances for the north London side.
There doesn’t appear to be a future at Arsenal for Guendouzi under Mikel Arteta, although at the tender age of 21, and having captained his country at under-21 level, there is clearly talent in there for the future.
And Ozil sees it too.
During a Q&A with fans on Twitter, the exiled German was asked who is ‘the most underrated footballer you have played with’?
“@MatteoGuendouzi,” Ozil said. “I'm sure he will be a big football player one day!”
As with Ozil, Guendouzi has been exiled from the current Arsenal squad under Arteta.
His last game for the club came when football returned after the first lockdown, as the Gunners were beaten 2-1 away to Brighton & Hove Albion.
Guendouzi was involved in an altercation with Neal Maupay after that game, where he appeared to grab the throat of the Brighton man.
He escaped a ban, but didn’t escape the wrath of Arteta, who has not played him since and shipped him out on loan to Hertha Berlin in the summer.
