It has been a memorable season for Marcelo Flores, with the youngster having made progress at both club and international level.
Fittingly, the season finished with him featuring for both the Mexico senior team and Arsenal U23s in a short space of time.
In the early hours of Thursday morning Flores came on as a substitute for Mexico in their goalless draw against Guatemala, with the game being played in the United States. It was the 18-year-old’s second senior appearance and he has designs on being involved in this year’s World Cup, although he is also eligible to represent Canada or England.
Then on Friday evening Flores started for Arsenal U23s against Leeds United and was deployed in the left wing position which he has made his own this season.
Flores was one of Arsenal’s standout performers in the 1-1 draw at Emirates Stadium and he managed to get on the scoresheet as he found the net after Joel Lopez’s initial effort was kept out.
One of the highlights of Flores’ season was being named on the bench for the first-team against Crystal Palace and it is possible that he could receive another call-up before the conclusion of the campaign.
Next season Flores will hope to gain further experience of senior football, which could include appearances in cup games for Arsenal or potentially a loan spell.
There were some frustrating moments for the youngster this season, especially earlier in the campaign when he had to be patient to break into the U23s team, but 2021-22 has ended in impressive fashion for Flores.
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Jeorge Bird is the author of www.arsenalyouth.wordpress.com Follow him on Twitter @jeorgebird
The new wave from hale end! Hopefully we’ll see them next season with Europe on the horizon..
Special footballer this one! When i saw the pic i thought he penned a new contract 😑 hopefully he develops well and we have another gem on our hands. No short of talent, that’s for sure. He seems to have the rest of the ingredients tho 🤞🏽💪🏾
It would be Nice to have a small season overview of our talents at the academy and the youngsters out on loan.
Second this
Jeorge already provides this I think, might be a pre rather than post–season article perhaps.
Would love to hear from Jorge who he thinks are ready from the academy to play some of the cups next season. Nelson has had a good run as of late w Feyenoord. Has he gotten better since he plateaued? Is Azeez ready for some minutes in midfield or does he go out on loan? Hutchinson, Patino and Flores haven’t had a loan yet, so maybe that’s their next move? We need to bring in 7 or 8 new players next year, depending on Saliba signing a new deal. Whatever we can’t secure from the market will need to come… Read more »
Flores, Patino and Hutchinson certainly seem to be the three stand out talents from their year (born 2003)
I’d be inclined to keep them all at the club for the first half of next season as there should be plenty of opportunities for them in the League Cup and early European rounds, then loan them out post the World Cup if the minutes dry up…
Agree about all of them but also think one Jack Francis and Khayo Edwards will make it too. I worry about Flores ability to cope physically at EPL level
Thought this was going to be a contract announcement! Wish he as going to suit up with Canada’s new generation of talent but it looks like Mexico is a foregone conclusion
Thanks for the article Jeorge. I’d never heard of this kid until this week, an article about players eligible for multiple countries prior to the WC in Qatar. Read he is an Arsenal player and took it from there. He sounds an interesting player with valuable potential, I look forward to tollowimg his progress.