Report: 19-year-old Arsenal defender is travelling with the first-team to Palace this evening, yet to make debut

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Arsenal fans might already be aware that Marcelo Flores is on his way with the first-team squad to Crystal Palace tonight, but there is another new face, Mazeed Ogungbo, also making the trip.

Flores has been on the radar of Arsenal’s coaching staff for some time now and has been tipped to make a Premier League bow in the not too distant future. However, the inclusion of Ogungbo in the first-team is more of a surprise and has come from nowhere.

According to Goal’s Charles Watts, Ogungbo is to travel with the Gunners first-team tonight and be involved at Selhurst Park.

Ogungbo, 19, is a defender by trade and has been a regular fixture for the 23s in the PL2 competition, making 20 appearances this season for the young Gunners.

Arsenal have a number of young players emerging and have already picked the likes of Charlie Patino at times this season, while others such as Salah-Eddine have also featured.

TBR’s View: Ogungbo Another Example At Arsenal

There can be no doubt that Mikel Arteta is a fan of bringing talent through and giving them a chance. A number of youngsters have done it already and Ogungbo is the latest.

He might not be involved at all in the actual action but it will be a big experience for the defender. Further, it shows everyone else in the academy that the route into the first-team is right there.

Arteta deserves credit for how he manages his squad and including Ogungbo this evening might be another masterstroke from the Spaniard.