Arsenal May Regret Selling ‘Phenomenal’ Midfielder as His Value Triples

Arsenal have produced many talented young players from their Hale End academy in recent years. While some like Bukayo Saka have become stars for the first team, others have slipped through the cracks and found success elsewhere.

One such player who Arsenal may now regret selling is French midfielder Matteo Guendouzi. Signed for £7m in 2018, Guendouzi initially impressed at Arsenal, making 82 appearances across two seasons. However, disciplinary issues saw him fall out of favor under Mikel Arteta.

After loan spells at Hertha Berlin and Marseille, Arsenal sold Guendouzi to Marseille permanently for just £9m in 2022. At the time, it seemed like a decent deal to offload a player deemed surplus to requirements.

However, Guendouzi has since rebuilt his career spectacularly at Lazio. Over the past two seasons, he has made 75 appearances for the Italian club and become a key player. His consistent performances have seen his market value skyrocket.

According to CIES Football Observatory, Guendouzi is now valued at £37m – a staggering 311% increase on the £9m fee Arsenal received. At just 25 years old, the “phenomenal” midfielder still has his best years ahead of him.

While attitude problems meant there was likely no way back for Guendouzi at Arsenal, the club may now rue selling him so cheaply. His current form and dramatically increased value suggest Arsenal failed to fully capitalize on his potential.

As Arsenal continue to search for midfield reinforcements, the decision to let a £37m-rated talent leave for just £9m looks increasingly questionable. Guendouzi’s renaissance at Lazio is a reminder that sometimes a change of scenery is all a young player needs to fulfill their promise.