Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was among the spectators at Meadow Park as the Gunners U21 squad began their Premier League 2 season with a 3-1 win over Manchester United on Saturday afternoon.

Arsenal's Academy has uploaded a photo on Twitter showing the Spanish football tactician watching proceedings from the stands.

Teenage Brazilian winger Marquinhos was the standout performer with a goal and assist as the Gunners development squad came from behind to earn a win against the Red Devils, who were without Shola Shoretire and Maxi Oyedele.

Arteta ran the rule over four players of Nigerian descent during the game namely midfielders James Olayinka and Miguel Azeez, centre-back Zach Awe and winger Nathan Butler-Oyedeji.

Awe and Azeez trained with the first team at the start of pre-season preparations but were left out of the roster for the training camps in Germany and United States.

Azeez was given his senior debut by Arteta in a Europa League clash against Dundalk in December 2020 and was named in four Premier League matchday squads last season.

The England youth international and Olayinka have been linked with a departure from the Emirates Stadium before the close of the summer transfer window.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : arsenal.com

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