Arsenal have tried to improve their system of loaning players since the problems with Eddie Nketiah’s time with Leeds United. The record England u21 goalscorer was not used as Arsenal expected by Marcelo Bielsa, the club deciding to recall him the following January.
Nketiah remained with the team in Mikel Arteta’s first season with the club. However, since he has struggled to get regular game time and nearly left the club this summer.
With less than a year remaining on his contract, Arsenal have little control over the situation and may look to cash in this upcoming January. Arsenal face a similar situation with Miguel Azeez. The England youth international has become a favourite of supporters thanks to his eye-catching displays for the youth side and in the preseason.
Azeez plays in central midfield and has great technical ability in addition to an eye for goal.
However, with Mikel Arteta’s midfield well-stocked and no European football to given him more senior opportunities, it was decided Azeez would go out on loan and joined Portsmouth.
The 19-year-old however has played just one game so far in which he was substituted 59 minutes into the game.
Since then, he has been on the bench for the 2-2 draws against Plymouth and Charlton but then sustained a groin injury which is expected to keep him out for a spell.
Should his opportunities when he recovers not improve Arsenal could look to bring him back to the club. It is understood Azeez has a recall clause in his deal after Pompey coach Danny Cowley confirmed the regularity to which loanees included them in deals.
“All loan players tend to have recall clauses, they all tend to have them,” Cowley said
“But, most of them are on our terms and there are specific dates.”
Arsenal will lose both Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny in January due to the African Cup of Nations. Granit Xhaka is expected to be out for approximately 3 months with a serious knee injury.
Should he have a setback and also be missing over winter, Mikel Arteta could recall Azeez back at the start of the January window.
He could then look to utilise him for a time before deciding whether to loan him back out before the close of the winter transfer period.
Whatever happens, Arsenal must try not to make the same mistake with Azeez as they did Nketiah, or risk him missing out on key playing experience at senior level.
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