‘Vieira regen’, ‘future captain’: Some Arsenal fans respond to academy prospect’s post-match tweet

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Arsenal academy ace Miguel Azeez has taken to Twitter with a message for the Gunners fanbase after coming off the bench for Mikel Arteta’s side in their first pre-season friendly of 2020-21.

The 17-year-old, widely considered as one of the brightest prospects emerging from the club’s academy, replaced Granit Xhaka in the 61st minute of the 4-1 win over MK Dons on Tuesday.

Last season, Azeez made 12 Premier League 2 appearances, as well as featuring once in the EFL Trophy, playing 13 minutes of Arsenal’s 1-0 reverse to Peterborough at London Road.

Formerly playing as a box-to-box midfielder, Azeez told Guillem Balague in July that Arsenal academy chief Per Mertesacker is attempting to turn him in to a holding midfielder.

“At the moment, I’m mainly playing as a CDM, so like a number six or an eight,” Azeez said. “I’ve always said that I can do all three, so I’m a midfielder.

“Per Mertesacker, he said he’s seen a specific trait I have, which is obviously that I’ve got a good range of passing as well as that I can run a lot.

“He said that there could be an opportunity in the first team in that position.”

After the game, Azeez tweeted his gratitude for the opportunity and hoped for many more to come:

And plenty of Arsenal fans showed their support for the youngster:

Mohamed Elneny, Eddie Nketiah, Mark McGuinness and Reiss Nelson netted for Arsenal, while Rob Holding’s own goal got the Dons on the scoresheet.