Arsenal could recall Matteo Guendouzi this month with Mikel Arteta set to make decision

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Matteo Guendouzi was loaned out last summer to Hertha Berlin after being ostracised by Mikel Arteta following his outburst at Brighton when tensions boiled over in the aftermath of Bernd Leno’s injury. The Frenchman may be handed a second chance at Arsenal though, with Arteta set to recall him from the Bundesliga side.

Mikel Arteta could spring a January transfer window surprise by recalling exiled loanee Matteo Guendouzi early from his spell at Hertha Berlin.

Guendouzi was sent packing last summer after being ostracised by Arteta following his outburst at Brighton when tensions boiled over in the aftermath of Bernd Leno’s injury.

The 21-year-old was a regular for Arsenal prior to those scenes, and has once again showed his ability during his loan spell at Hertha.

Despite only making nine appearances for the club, Hertha boss Bruno Labbadia has been full of praise for the Frenchman.

“We’re glad we managed to recruit him,” Labbadia said. “He is a very, very good player, who has a sense of space and is very technically skilled.

“Although he’s young, he gives instructions. He doesn’t care at all that he doesn’t speak the language.”

Labbadia may not have Guendouzi on his books for much longer though, with Bild claiming he is set to return to Arsenal either to challenge for a place in the first team or to be sold.

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Hertha have already lined up a replacement for Guendouzi, the statement claims, with Wolfsburg ace Yannick Gerhardt on the club’s shortlist.

Koln are also believed to be interested in the 26-year-old.

Arteta was believed to be aiming to trim his squad for the second half of the season, with William Saliba already leaving on loan to Ligue 1 club Nice.

Sead Kolasinac has also departed on loan for Bundesliga side Schalke 04, but Arteta admits transfer dealings have been made even more difficult by the current coronavirus circumstances.

He added: “At the moment, the market is really complicated. The situation around every club is not easy and to get the negotiations going as well is harder because you cannot be face to face.

“You cannot travel to another country and make a deal happen like that. Everything has to be through the phone or Zoom. It can go either way to be fair.

“I can tell you what I would like, which is on day one to have the squad like I want and the players out and in sorted, but I think it is really complicated right now.”

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