Arsenal midfielder subject of loan transfer interest

The current state of Arsenal is one most will be familiar with. Largely because it hasn’t changed all too much. Brentford are first up on the agenda in 2021/22 and the squad is looking not too dissimilar from what it was 76 days ago.

Mikel Arteta has a bloated team on his hands. It needs significant trimming and from the fans’ perspective there isn’t much disagreement over where it needs reducing. One area that needs bolstering, however, is in midfield.

Joe Willock is a Newcastle player and will go down as the Gunners’ biggest sale of the summer, leaving behind a department with two regular starting options and a bit left over.

Thomas Partey, when fit, and Granit Xhaka will be the go-to double pivot, with Albert Sambi Lokonga and Mohamed Elneny the backup options to provide cover and rotation. After that, well, it’s looking pretty thin.

Arsenal midfielder Miguel Azeez subject of loan interest from Portsmouth as Mikel Arteta needs to make decision with Ainsley Maitland-Niles for new season

With AFCON coming around in the winter time it leaves that number cut in half. Arsenal will be resting all of their hopes on Xhaka and Sambi to not only stay fit, but to man the Premier League fort on their own for some crucial weeks of the season.

Miguel Azeez may be needed after all. Still only 18 years old, the Hale Ender is highly thought of from within the club as well as externally, making huge strides up until the point he will be in first team reckoning for the coming campaign when cup matches come around.

However, the occasional cup minutes and Under-23 outings could be swapped for a full season of senior football with a loan. While still only young and with time on his side, it’s a move that could do him the world of good ahead of potentially taking Elneny’s spot in the squad in 12 months’ time.

As per Football League World, Portsmouth are one of the sides monitoring his future as they plot a loan swoop before the summer deadline. Were it not for Arsenal being so limited in that area, especially come AFCON, it would be a solid level for him at League One. With the manager down at Fratton Park being the same Danny Cowley who did so brilliantly with Emile Smith Rowe during his loan at Huddersfield, it only adds to the benefits.

But will Arsenal need him? Sending him out on loan makes sense but only under the proviso that there is someone else coming in. It’s a huge risk to head into a winter schedule with only two central midfielders. Even if he’s only 18, losing one of Sambi or Xhaka would be catastrophic without appropriate cover. Some experience wouldn’t go amiss.

Thus, if a temporary switch is signed off, it hints that Ainsley Maitland-Niles is staying put. The 23-year-old has featured in midfield regularly over pre-season and to his credit hasn’t looked too out of place.

Heading into the winter period with three central midfield options is, it goes without saying, more reassuring than two. Maitland-Niles could fetch a fee this summer with two years left on his deal and a sale would be welcome in the bid to boost the transfer kitty, but a midfielder would have to be brought in.

It’s an interesting situation. Indeed, Azeez going on loan would be a rich experience to aid his development and the best option for him, yet it would strongly indicate Maitland-Niles is staying, in which case he needs to sign a new deal. A lot to ponder on top of an awful lot already to ponder.

This is one to keep an eye on if this is a story continues developing.