Arsenal’s newest wonderkid, 17, promoted to first-team by Mikel Arteta
17-year-old midfielder Marcelo Flores has been training with Arsenal 's first team squad this week, ahead of the Gunners' final Premier League game of the season against Brighton and Hove Albion.
Flores has impressed since joining the club's academy from Ipswich Town in 2019, penning his first professional contract back in October.
He has made 21 appearances for Arsenal's under-18s side and made his first start for the under-23s earlier this month in a 2-2 draw with West Ham.
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta has seemingly been impressed by Flores' development, having promoted him to train with the first team this week.
Flores was born in Canada but he has represented Mexico at youth level, telling the Daily Cannon in 2019: "Yes, due to my background I have that opportunity [to represent Canada], but I haven't made a final decision. Right now, Mexico called me and I really enjoyed it."
Speaking in March, Canada's under-23s coach Mauro Biello revealed that they were "interested" in Flores and that "Canada will do its best to try and bring him across to our team."
He said: "Marcelo Flores is a player that obviously we have been looking at, a player that for sure we would love to have in our group. Again, he is a player that is being [sought] after by other organisations.
"At the moment, for sure, Canada is interested in Marcelo as a player. Going forward, there will be opportunities down the road for this young player and Canada will do its best to try and bring him across to our team."
Flores is set to officially join up with Arsenal's under-23s next season and he will be working under a new coach, after the Athletic revealed that Steve Bould had been sacked.
A club legend, Bould had spent more than 30 years at the club and had been in charge of the under-23s since June 2019, when he swapped roles with Freddie Ljungberg.
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