The Arsenal academy continues to impress everyone.
Hale End has been producing several outstanding talents over the years. Max Dowman came through the ranks and made his debut this season, as did Andre Harriman-Annous. Before them were the likes of Ethan Nwaneri, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Bukayo Saka.
The common theme among all of the names above is that none of them are actually defenders. Saka and Lewis-Skelly have featured at left-back, but that isn’t their natural position.
Now, Arsenal fans can finally say that an out-and-out defender has come through their academy – Marli Salmon.
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Martin Odegaard hails Marli Salmon as Hale End finally produces a defender
Martin Odegaard knows better than anyone else what it takes to break into the first team as a teenager.
The Norwegian did it at the age of 15 back in his home country, and just a year later, he was holding up the Real Madrid shirt after signing for them.
Odegaard is a great mentor to all the young players coming through at Arsenal, and as the captain, he has been doing a brilliant job mentoring them. The likes of Nwaneri and Dowman are going through a very similar journey as he did, and the two attacking midfielders are learning from their skipper.
Arsenal fans have enjoyed watching those two teenagers in the first team, just like they have done with Saka and Lewis-Skelly.
On Wednesday night, Salmon made his senior debut for Arsenal against Club Brugge, and Odegaard is absolutely delighted for him.
The Gunners captain hailed the youngster and also pointed out why Salmon’s debut is different to other academy graduates who have come through – because he’s a defender and not another technical attacker.
He wrote in his Arsenal Matchday Programme: “It was a special night too for Marli Salmon, making his debut at just 16.
“It means a lot to everyone when we see a player that young play for the first time. It’s important for the club, for the players, myself and the other more experienced players to help them settle in and be able to improve and grow.
“He’s another example of how well the Academy is working here because Marli is another top player coming through. It’s something we all love to see and something we all appreciate.
“It’s not so common to see someone breaking through that young, especially in his position as a defender. He’s a bit quiet, of course, around the squad, but he’s a really great guy, and when he’s on the pitch, he gives everything.
“He trains hard and works hard every day. He has a really good attitude, and it’s nice to see the defenders break through as well, not just the technical attacking players.”
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Marli Salmon’s road to the Arsenal first team will be different
Mikel Arteta’s management of the likes of Saka, Lewis-Skelly, Nwaneri and Dowman has all been excellent over the last few years.
Saka has developed into a global superstar, while Lewis-Skelly has made more than 50 appearances and has become an England international. Nwaneri may complain that he hasn’t been given enough minutes, but he too has played 50 senior games.
Dowman is only getting started, but the fact that he has been given senior opportunities in the Premier League and the Champions League at the age of 15 shows the trust Arteta has in him.
Salmon has now made his debut too, but with Arsenal having so many elite defenders ahead of him, the strategy is to send him on loan a few times before he becomes a regular.
Arsenal did that with William Saliba, and it worked brilliantly. There’s no reason why the same will not happen with Salmon in the coming years.
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