MAURO Bandeira has returned to Arsenal after his season-long loan spell at Colchester United ended early.

The 19-year-old midfielder made 11 league and cup appearances and two league starts for the U's after joining them on loan from the Gunners, last summer.

Bandeira was involved for Colchester in pre-season and in the opening weeks of the season under Ben Garner.

 

But he has found himself down the pecking order since then and his last appearance came as a substitute in the U's 5-0 defeat at Forest Green Rovers, last October.

Bandeira, who signed his first professional contract at Arsenal in 2022, has now returned to the Premier League side after both clubs decided that it was best to cut short the loan.

Bandeira’s move to Colchester was his first loan switch away from Arsenal, where he has been since the age of 13.

He made 20 appearances in Premier League 2 for the Gunners last season, scoring three goals and was named among the substitutes for the club's first team on three occasions.

Bandeira was part of the Arsenal under-18 side that lost 3-0 to Colchester in the FA Youth Cup third round in December 2021, when goals from Ryan Lowe, Samson Tovide and Kaan Bennett gave the U’s victory at the JobServe Community Stadium.