Guendouzi revels in "dream" first France goal as Saliba sends message

Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi has revelled in his "dream" after scoring his first goal for the French national team in Tuesday night's friendly win over South Africa.

The central midfielder is set to make his loan move to Marseille permanent from the Gunners for a reported £9million fee. The French club's president Pablo Longoria confirmed that the clauses for such a deal have already been met and the deal will be formalised when the transfer window opens. Guendouzi is set to sign a three-year contract with the Ligue 1 outfit that will keep him in the south of France until 2025.

Having received his first call up to the France international side earlier this season, the central midfielder has gone from strength to strength and made his France international debut earlier this season as he appeared for Les Bleus in a World Cup qualifier against Finland in November. The 22-year-old was ostracised by Gunners boss Mike Arteta back in 2020 but has caught the eye this campaign.

The central midfielder spoke of his "immense pride" after the game for netting his first goal for the international team. It was another landmark moment in a memorable season for the gifted midfielder, who has starred for Jorge Sampaoli's high-flying side in Ligue 1.

Guendouzi explained after the match, as cited by GFFN : "It's a source of immense pride, my first goal with the French team, you dream of moments like these. I will remember it for my whole life, that's for sure. I'm really very happy, I hope to score many more. I'm proud because it rewards me for the work I've been putting in for a long time. I will remember it until the end of my life, this first goal with the French team, that's for sure."

Guendouzi's goal came in stoppage time of the 5-0 win over South Africa, with the midfielder sweeping home from the edge of the area to score his first international goal in just his third cap. He was congratulated by William Saliba - who is also on loan at Marseille from the Gunners and is involved with the France national side, for whom he has been capped twice. Posting on his Instagram story, the defender wrote: "Congrats bro on your first Blue goal."

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Guendouzi had made 82 appearances for the North London side in all competitions and had looked set for a bright future at the club but is now in the second of two loan deals away from the Emirates. The 22-year-old, who joined Arsenal from Lorient in 2018, spent last season out on loan at Hertha Berlin, making 24 appearances and scoring two goals before injury cut his campaign short.

He subsequently joined Marseille on a season-long loan deal last summer while the Ligue 1 club are now set to exercise their option to make that switch long-term this year. It had always appeared unlikely that Guendouzi will return to Arsenal due to his apparent fallout with Arteta, who subsequently secured the signings of Thomas Partey and Albert Sambi Lokonga.