Video: Arsenal’s Matteo Guendouzi in costly mistake as Hertha dragged ever-closer to relegation zone

On-loan Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi’s patchy recent spell with Hertha Berlin continued this evening, as the Frenchman was responsible for giving away a costly goal versus RB Leipzig.

Bundesliga switch

French youth international Guendouzi left north London ahead of the transfer deadline in October, making the move to Bundesliga outfit Hertha for the 2020/21 campaign.

The 21-year-old’s exit of course came with Guendouzi having slipped majorly down the pecking order at the Emirates over the final months of last season.

He was accused of taunting several Brighton stars over finances during a defeat at the Amex back in June, and had since failed to garner a single appearance.

As such, with Mikel Arteta having made abundantly clear that he is not afraid to completely freeze out members of his Arsenal squad (just ask Mesut Ozil), Guendouzi’s eventual exit did not come as much of a surprise.

Douzi shining

Following a difficult start to life in the German capital which saw him quickly pick up Covid-19 on the back of his arrival, meanwhile, Guendouzi has since gone on to firmly establish himself at the base of Hertha’s midfield.

The youngster has featured in the club’s last 18 league outings, generally seeing out 90 minutes.

He even opened his account in the colours of Die Alte Dame in December, putting his side in front with a classy finish at Borussia Monchengladbach:

Arsenal loanee Matteo Guendouzi balling in the Bundesliga 🤷‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/AbcfKkOOGk

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) December 12, 2020

Guendouzi’s abilities in front of goal were then on show once again following the turn of the year, when the Frenchman bent home another fine strike during a meeting with Schalke:

Mattéo Guendouzi gets @HerthaBSC_EN on the board with this marvelous curl. 😍 pic.twitter.com/uavdcJYyed

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 2, 2021

Arsenal, are you watching?

As outlined above, however, whilst, initially, Guendouzi’s Hertha switch looked set to provide the midfielder with the ideal platform to get his career back on track, recent weeks have proven of a more concerning nature.

Hertha are now winless in their last 8 in the German top-flight, a run which has seen the capital outfit slip to 15th in the table, level on points with relegation playoff holders Arminia Bielefeld.

And such struggles have coincided with a rocky patch of form for the club’s midfield loanee, too.

Guendouzi was actually benched for two of Hertha’s last three fixtures, on the back of Bruno Labbadia’s dismissal, and the subsequent appointment of Pal Dardai.

His latest appearance, meanwhile, came earlier today, versus RB Leipzig.

A little over 20 minutes from time, with his side a goal down but very much still in proceedings, the 21-year-old was introduced to the fray, in an attempt to draw Hertha level.

To say that Guendouzi’s arrival did not have the desired effect, though, would be putting it lightly.

Within 3 minutes of stepping onto the pitch, the midfielder was guilty of needlessly surrendering possession in the hosts’ box, before throwing himself to ground in an attempt to win a free-kick.

And, after seeing his protests waved away, Leipzig swiftly took advantage, as Nordi Mukiele lashed home a crucial 2nd, en route to another damaging defeat for Hertha Berlin:

Well that’s awkward… 😬

Mukiele finishing firmly after Guendouzi goes to ground in his own box 🙃 pic.twitter.com/9xTjjyv3sA

— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) February 21, 2021

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This article was edited by Josh Barker.

Source: 101greatgoals.com