Mikel Arteta is a big fan of Arsenal youngster Marcelo Flores, and plans to assess the winger in pre-season ahead of potential first-team integration.

Football.London report that Mikel Arteta is a huge admirer of Marcelo Flores, and plans to assess him over pre-season. The player himself is hopeful of first-team opportunities from next season.

Speaking to Goal recently, Flores revealed his high ambitions, including his hope to play in the Premier League before his birthday at the start of October.

“I would like to make my Premier League debut before I turn 19,” Flores said. “That’s my goal.

“And I’d like to get my proper international debut for Mexico and hopefully be involved in the Qatar World Cup.”

Flores was speaking to Goal having been listed on their “NXGN 2022”, a list of the current top-50 talents born on or after January 1st, 2003.

The teenager made his debut for Mexico in December, after starring in their u20s Revelations Cup win in November, but he’s yet to start a senior international for his country.

In all competitions, from the u18s to the u23s, Flores has scored 13 goals and assisted a further six for Arsenal so far this season.

The vast majority of his academy appearances came at u18 level before the turn of the year, but he’s since stepped up to the u23s.

The winger has played exclusively in the Gunners’ top age group since his goal at the Emirates Stadium against Chelsea on January 11th, and he has four direct goal contributions in his last four PL2 games.

Clearly a big talent, it seems only a matter of time before Flores earns further chances at Arsenal. He’ll hope to hurry that process along by making himself impossible to ignore in the coming months.