Darren Bent has revealed Mikel Arteta had a ‘real problem’ with a former Arsenal player and his ‘stinking’ attitude.

Arteta made a point of getting rid of supposed bad eggs when he returned to former club Arsenal to take over as manager in December 2019.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was infamously stripped of the Arsenal captaincy before being released in February 2022.

But Arteta was similarly brutal with Matteo Guendouzi, who his predecessor Unai Emery signed in an £8m move from Lorient in 2018.

Emery described Guendouzi as a ‘talented young player’ with ‘big potential’ when he arrived at the Emirates Stadium and the midfielder featured regularly during the 2018-19 campaign, making 48 appearances in all competions.

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But Guendouzi’s minutes began to dry up under Arteta and the France international was excluded from training and left out of Arsenal’s squad due to issues with his ‘attitude and general conduct’.

Arsenal sent Guendouzi out on...