A surprising turn of events to say the very least. After a 2022-23 year of speculation after being loaned to LaLiga Smartbank’s Real Oviedo, managing to get on the field just 15 times (13 league, 2 Copa del Rey), garnering a grand total of 685 minutes played between the two, and going scoreless with just one assist in the entire football season, Marcelo Flores’s return to the Premier League’s side this summer was surrounded by question marks.
While some were sure he’d be placed elsewhere in Europe, some even figured he’d stick around with the Gunners to some degree, whether it be in the youth teams or as part of the senior squad.