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Arsenal's Matteo Guendouzi 'has not grown up as a human being', claims Jeremie Aliadiere

Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi has not "grown up as a human being", according to Jeremie Aliadiere, after seeing his first-team exposure reduced under Mikel Arteta.

Guendouzi impressed Unai Emery brought him from France in the summer of 2018, but Arteta's appointment has seen him lose his first-team spot with one Premier League start in 2020.

The midfielder clashed with his boss during the club's winter training break, with Arteta hinting at disciplinary problems, and Aliadiere says Guendouzi is currently lacking the maturity to succeed at Arsenal.

“Listen, I’m a big fan of the guy,” Aliadiere told Goal.com.

“He’s like my little brother and I always told him that Arsenal would be a very good team for his development as a player and as a human being.

“He took my advice and came to the club, but I just feel Matteo hasn’t grown up as a human being yet. He’s grown up as a player, he’s matured massively as a player and every year he gets better.

"But unfortunately as a man, he hasn’t grown and matured as much as I thought he would by joining Arsenal.

“I think that’s what he’s missing and that’s why he’s not playing as much under Mikel [Arteta] because Mikel is not really up for that.

“He wants players who are going to do a job for the team and do what they ask him to do. If they are not happy to do that, then he will have someone else do it for him.”

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