Matteo Guendouzi’s post-match antics in Lyon on Wednesday night have cast fresh light on why Mikel Arteta ended his Arsenal career in 2020, a decision that now looks increasingly shrewd.
Guendouzi helped Fenerbahce to a 2-1 win over Lyon, securing their place in this season’s Champions League. But his celebrations sparked chaotic scenes that have gone viral on social media, with the midfielder seen goading Lyon players and supporters.
Guendouzi defends his actions
Guendouzi offered a defence of his behaviour, saying: “For 90 minutes, even longer with the warm-up, they insulted my family. It’s something that gets to you. They insulted my mother and my family, and to me, that was disrespectful. Beyond that, if we can’t celebrate the way we want anymore, I think that is a shame.”
However, footage of the celebrations shows him actively provoking the Lyon players and fans, and he must take his share of the blame for the violent scenes that followed.
Arteta’s discipline-first approach
The incident is unlikely to surprise Arteta, who has now been in charge at Arsenal for almost eight years. During the club’s title-winning 2025-26 season, none of his players received a red card, with only Manchester City and Brighton matching that record. Arsenal’s 51 yellow cards were the lowest tally in the Premier League by a significant margin.
Guendouzi was recruited as a 19-year-old from Lorient by Unai Emery in 2018. While Emery indulged the teenager, Arteta was quickly unimpressed when he succeeded his fellow Spaniard. A bust-up with staff during a mid-season training camp in Dubai, following an altercation with a team-mate, tested Arteta’s patience, though Guendouzi convinced him he deserved another chance.
The Brighton incident that sealed his fate
His time under Arteta came to an unhappy end after a fracas following a defeat at Brighton. Guendouzi escaped official sanction after grabbing Neal Maupay, but Arteta had seen enough. He called the French youngster into a meeting and was reportedly unimpressed by his attitude.
Guendouzi spent the next season at Hertha Berlin, then a loan at Marseille was made permanent. After a couple of seasons at Lazio, Fenerbahce paid £25million for him early this year.
While Guendouzi is clearly a talented operator, his involvement in another spectacular bust-up serves as a reminder that Arteta made the right call all those years ago.
