Rapids midfielder Cole Bassett training with Arsenal’s U-23 squad this week

When Arsenal came to play the Colorado Rapids in a friendly this summer, it was an exciting moment for Cole Bassett. He gushed about how Arsenal was his “number one club” and he’d been following them since he was 10. Playing against some of the biggest names in the EPL was surely a dream come true for the Colorado homegrown.

But now Bassett is getting another amazing opportunity, as he’s going to train with Arsenal’s U-23 side for the week. Last year, he and Sam Vine went over to Europe to train with the Bundesliga club Freiburg and the Rapids reportedly declined an offer for the midfielder.

While a more long-term opportunity is surely in the back of Bassett’s mind, he is looking at the opportunity as a chance to develop his game. In an interview earlier this week, Bassett told the Denver Post, “when Arsenal came over here and played us [in an international friendly in July], you could see there are little things that they do that I just don’t quite have yet. I’m eager to learn from them. Picking up things from every player will help improve my game. It’s going to be a great learning experience.”

Since signing with the Rapids on August 9, 2018, Bassett has had 26 appearances (17 from the start), putting in three goals and earning two assists.