It’s not just about Max Dowman, another Arsenal academy star is replicating Bukayo Saka

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Max Dowman is the talk of Arsenal’s academy right now, but the starlet isn’t actually the only one shining bright.

Early into his career, Dowman has already been compared to Lionel Messi, which is praise that doesn’t need explanation.

Mikel Arteta struggles to comprehend Dowman’s ability at just 15 years old, already training and making the matchday squad in Arsenal’s first team.

The future is insanely bright for the 2009-born talent, but another member of his class is also being recognised.

• READ MORE: Max Dowman has made a ‘significant’ change to his game that Mikel Arteta will absolutely love

Marli Salmon makes The Guardian’s Next Generation list

Dowman isn’t the only member of Arsenal’s academy squad playing above his years while combating his schoolwork.

Fellow 2009-born star Marli Salmon has also been training with Arsenal’s first team and earned senior appearances during pre-season.

The Arsenal squad are showing full support for Salmon on his venture into the first team, which could be on the horizon already.

During the international break, the teenage centre-back was recognised by The Guardian, who named Salmon in their Next Generation 2025 list. 

The Guardian recognised the ‘surreal moments’ the defender has experienced over the past year, mentioning his involvement on Arsenal’s pre-season tour.

Being named on the list is a triumph in itself for Salmon, who has followed in the footsteps of several star names before him to make the cut. 

Salmon follows Bukayo Saka and others 

In 2018, Bukayo Saka walked the path that Salmon is following, being named as Arsenal’s representative for The Guardian’s Next Generation list.

As well as Saka, fellow first-team regular Myles Lewis-Skelly has been nominated in the past, being the 2023 pick.

Though following in Saka and Lewis-Skelly’s footsteps is exactly where Salmon will want to be, there have also been some names to make the list whose careers have developed far from Arsenal.

While the hit rate hasn’t been entirely convincing from an Arsenal point of view, Salmon only needs to glance at what players at other clubs have gone on to do after making the list.

Premier League regulars such as Jadon Sancho, Oscar Bobb and Curtis Jones were named in the past, all going on to become highly-valued players.

With Saka and Lewis-Skelly to follow, Salmon is one to watch at Arsenal.