Mikel Arteta says Arsenal will wait until after Sunday’s match with Burnley to decide whether Miguel Azeez and Tyreece John-Jules will head out for a second loan spell or not.
The Gunners recalled the midfielder and attacker from Portsmouth and Blackpool respectively having grown concerned by their lack of game time.
Both youngsters were due to stay at their loan clubs until the end of the season but like Nikolaj Moller, Jordi Osei-Tutu, Jonathan Dinzeyi and Harry Clarke, summer agreements with those trusted with their development have been ended prematurely.
Given the personnel problems, he’s been working through, Arteta was asked if Azeez and John-Jules might bolster the first team squad.
“Miguel Azeez had Covid so he has not been involved at all,” said the boss.
“Tyreece John-Jules, we brought him back for different reasons. The loan spells and the things that we wanted to achieve with him weren’t happening, so we decided to call them back, sit down, think and now talk and discuss what the best plan is, going forwards.
“Within the context we are in now as well, they can help with some numbers, which is good.”
On whether they might play their football somewhere else in the second half of the season, the boss added: “It’s a possibility we are going to explore now when we have some normality after the Burnley game – where we have a break, and the transfer window starts to shut – what the best options are for these individuals.”
On the subject of players returning to the club, the Gunners are set to see Thomas Partey land back in the UK in the next 24 hours following Ghana’s unexpected AFCON exit.
The four-time winners came bottom of their group (they only had to come third out of four to qualify) following a disastrous couple of weeks in Cameroon that saw them draw with Gabon and lose to Morocco and minnows Comoros.
“It was a huge disappointment for Thomas obviously because he was representing his country and in this period he had big aims towards the competition,” said Arteta.
“He’s out now so he will be fully focused and involved with Arsenal as soon as possible.”
Tomorrow’s clash with Liverpool is likely to come too soon but Sunday’s game with Burnley – if it goes ahead – seems like a reasonable target. If that happens, he won’t actually have missed a league game, which is incredible.
Wish he could start against the Mugsmashers. Would be hilarious and thoroughly satisfying to see him help us win against those cheating scums.
Who do you pick in midfield?
Lokonga and White would be mine and Holding and Gabriel at the back. What are the alternatives? Chambers in midfield? Odegaard if he and ESR are both fit (which it seems we won’t know about until an hour before kickoff.
I really enjoyed the coming together piece, if someone reads that in 100 years they will know pretty much what we have all been through as a club to get to this point.
On a different note, I’m a little concerned by the lack of movement regarding transfers, I hoped we’d get cover/replacement for Xhaka by now but understand the market is difficult. I am tired of the Vlahovic links, and would love to see an attempt to prize Isak.
I’m actually quite sad for Thomas and Ghana being knocked out of the tournament so soon. I’m hoping there’s no effect to his morale when he arrives to the Arsenal camp.
Come on Thomas! Plenty of football to play and a trophy to win!