'I felt misjudged at Arsenal because I liked wearing high heels - I knew I had to leave'

A former player felt he was 'misjudged' during his time at the Emirates Stadium because he liked to wear high heels and jewellery. The player in question joined the Gunners at five years old and spent the next 11 years moving through the academy ranks. He was handed a professional contract in 2019 and looked set to break through at senior level.

The midfielder made his debut for the north Londoners the following year, coming off the bench in a game against Dundalk. It proved to be his only senior appearance and he later spent time on loan at Portsmouth, Ibiza and Wigan Athletic. He left Arsenal on a permanent basis in early 2024, moving to Spanish fourth-tier side Atlético Baleares.

The player in question is Miguel Azeez, who showed plenty of potential during his time at Arsenal but never made the grade. Earlier this year, he admitted that he felt 'misjudged' due to his eccentric fashion sense and claimed people thought he was 'aloof'.

Opening up on the manner of his exit, Azeez told : "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'.

"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?'.

"No, I'm just being myself. 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."

Azeez, who now plays for Greek side PAS Giannina, said that he was desperate to leave in order to forge a career elsewhere. He added that he was disappointed by the lack of recognition from the club when he said goodbye last year.

"I felt like I had to go," he added. "You would train with the under-21s, be in with the first team and be on the bench but not get on. I had to try to create my own path.

"I don't think anybody would like a player not extending their contract, but it wasn't the nicest send-off. Normally, a player who was leaving would get their shirt signed by all the players and staff. I didn't get that or a meeting saying goodbye.

"Not that I cared as I don't need that to feel validated, but me being the longest-serving player, it would have been nice to get something."