Matteo Guendouzi was left out of Arsenal’s squad to face Newcastle United after a heated row with Mikel Arteta and members of his coaching staff during the club’s winter training camp in Dubai.

The 20-year-old is understood to have clashed with Arteta on the training pitch before the argument continued at the team hotel later that evening.

Telegraph Sport reported last week that some of the club’s players have been impressed and taken aback by Arteta’s demanding approach, with the Spaniard making it clear that the onus is on the squad to fulfil his expectations.

Arteta is not afraid to be blunt and he and his coaching staff were unimpressed with Guendouzi’s attitude and body language in Dubai, leading to their angry exchange. Despite his age, Guendouzi is known to be among the more boisterous members of the Arsenal squad.

Guendouzi was not even included on the bench for Sunday’s emphatic 4-0 victory over Newcastle United, with Dani Ceballos starting alongside Granit Xhaka at the base of the midfield. It was the first time Guendouzi had not been involved in a Premier League matchday squad this season.

Arteta said it was a tactical decision but also hinted at a disciplinary issue with Guendouzi after the match on Sunday, when the Arsenal head coach said he had selected players who were “behaving better” at the club.

Asked why Guendouzi was not in the squad, Arteta told beIN SPORTS on Sunday: “The reason is that players who, in my opinion, are training better, behaving better and are more applied to deliver on the pitch what we want, are the players that are selected.”