16-year-old Marcelo Flores joins in Arsenal first-team training for first time

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Arsenal have been using plenty of their young talents in preparation for the upcoming season, especially with so many of their current first-team players away on international duty. 

One of them, it seems, is Marcelo Flores. 

The talented young Mexican took part in his first session with the senior Arsenal team this week, as the Gunners gear up for their Premier League opener against Fulham. 

Flores, who is Mexican but also qualifies to play international football for England or Canada, was clearly shocked by the inclusion. 

“This morning I just went in and went to train like every day and then my coach came and told me that I was going to train with the first team to help them in the game that comes this week,” Flores explained to ESPN. “I had a lot of fun, I liked everything, I was playing as a left-winger against Bellerín and there is a very good atmosphere. They all spoke Spanish.

“It leaves me with the spirit that I want to return to the first-team training sessions and play with them all the time, it was my dream to play with very good players but you have to wait your time.”

The 16-year-old was clearly brought in due to a lack of numbers but it is still a major positive for him to have been given this chance. 

The Gunners signed the youngster in March 2019 from Ipswich Town and he signed a full-term scholarship with the club this summer.

An attacking midfielder who is equally comfortable on the wing, Flores featured in the FA Youth Cup for Arsenal last season. He provided the assist for Arsenal’s only goal as they suffered a shock 4-1 quarter-final loss to an impressive Blackburn Rovers side. 

Now he is going toe-to-toe with Hector Bellerin in training and will no doubt be hoping he can become a permanent fixture in Arsenal first-team sessions in the not so distant future.