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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Azeez accused Arsenal coaching staff of unfairly treating him</li><li>Left Arsenal in January 2024  </li><li>Gunners coaching staff misjudged him</li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n"><strong>Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</strong></a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table>

Ex-Arsenal starlet felt judged by coaching staff for 'wearing heels' as claim made club used 'aloof' tag unfairly

Premier League

Nottingham Forest

Arsenal

<p>Azeez, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/news/miguel-azeez-arsenal-busquets-aiming-for-world-domination/1qocuckdmbmu715i1y9jxlljke" target="_blank">who graduated from the Gunners' youth system</a>, made his first and only appearance for the club in December 2020 in the Europa League. In the next three seasons, he was sent out on loan to Portsmouth, Ibiza and Wigan Athletic before he left the club permanently in January 2024. Recalling his time at the North London club, the 22-year-old felt that he was 'misjudged' by the coaching staff.  </p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>Speaking to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6130912/2025/02/18/life-after-arsenal-miguel-azeez/?source=twitteruk" target="_blank"><em>The Athletic</em></a>, the English player said: "I definitely felt, not adversity, but being misjudged. Ask anyone at Arsenal — I was always first into training and last to leave. If I looked like a quintessential footballer they would not have thought anything of it but because of how I looked, the hairstyles, the face, jewellery, whatever it was, they would say, ‘He is trying to be aloof by coming in early to be by himself’. </p><p>"I was just trying to improve. “That word ‘aloof’ was used against me at Arsenal. My team-mates were in the changing room on their phones on Snapchat when I was in the gym working, but they would just see me by myself and put two and two together. The players seemed to take to it, which was nice. It was from the coaching side of things. I don’t know if it was an upbringing thing or a hierarchy thing. I took it as people thinking, ‘Who does he think he is? Does he think he is better than me?’. Nah, I’m just being myself."</p>

WHAT MIGUEL AZEEZ SAID

<p>Azeez added: "I’m not causing any harm by wearing a pair of heels. There was always this thing representing the badge. I get that, but I think they wanted a different image to what I was giving. I guess there’s a lot of people who would change their personalities just to get to where they felt they needed to be. I’ve always said I’m a person who plays football. When people start to think they are a footballer before they’re a person, that’s when they start to change who they are." </p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>The Gunners, who are currently seven points behind league leaders Liverpool, will be back in action in the Premier League on Saturday as they host West Ham at Emirates Stadium. </p>

WHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?

Ex-Arsenal starlet felt judged by coaching staff for 'wearing heels' as claim made club used 'aloof' tag unfairly  | Goal.com

Former Arsenal midfielder Miguel Azeez opened up on his time at Emirates Stadium as he accused the club of unfairly tagging him &apos;aloof&apos;.

Ex-Arsenal starlet felt judged by coaching staff for &apos;wearing heels&apos; as claim made club used &apos;aloof&apos; tag unfairly

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