Hampshire Live reporter Jonty Colman has told football.london why Miguel Azeez has struggled since leaving Arsenal for Portsmouth on loan in the summer transfer window.
Azeez moved to Fratton Park in a last-ditch season-long deal in August, but is yet to secure a key role. The 19-year-old has only featured once for Pompey so far, with manager Danny Cowley overlooking him in the south coast side’s last seven games across all competitions.
Arsenal can recall Azeez from his Portsmouth loan in the January transfer window, if the midfielder’s situation has not improved. Loans manager Ben Knapper is keeping close tabs on the Hale Ender, and reporting to Mikel Arteta and Per Mertesacker.
Azeez caught the eye in Arsenal’s academy last season and Arteta handed the England U20 maestro his senior debut in the Europa League group stage against Dundalk in December. But chances to play at first-team level have been almost non-existent since joining Pompey, and Coleman has explained why Azeez’s loan transfer has so far not worked out.
“Technically, Danny Cowley is very impressed by him,” he said. “But it is against the ball where he will look for improvement from Azeez. He was given one chance from the off against Cambridge United and was taken off just before the hour mark.
“He showed some nice touches, but lacked the endeavour to win it [the ball] back on that one occasion. Cowley is big on work rate and off the ball qualities, so maybe that is where he needs to improve.”
Adding: “I would not be surprised at all [if Arsenal recall Azeez from his Portsmouth loan]. If Cowley is still there in January, he is unlikely to want to let Azeez go. But I’m sure Arsenal will not be best pleased by his lack of chances so far.”
Should Arsenal recall Azeez from Portsmouth loan transfer?
Arsenal will have wanted Azeez to establish himself at Portsmouth after his late-window loan transfer, but are not seeing that. Instead, the Gunners are watching their youngster sit on the bench as Pompey struggle near the bottom of League One.
Cowley’s side sit 17th in the table after 13 games, having only won four and drawn three matches so far. The Fratton Park outfit have also only won once in eight since Azeez moved to the south coast. Their win came against Sunderland with Azeez not named in the squad.
If Cowley continues to leave Azeez on the Portsmouth bench, Arsenal will have to consider ending his loan in January. The midfielder will not gain the experience the Gunners hoped for with his lowly 59-minutes from one game so far.
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