Teenager says Arsenal coaches converted him from a forward to a defender, he could be the next William Saliba

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Arsenal have one of the best academies in the Premier League.

Hale End has been able to produce numerous talented players over the last few years, and many of them are succeeding at the highest level.

Bukayo Saka has been the biggest success of them all, while Ethan Nwaneri, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Max Dowman are all getting opportunities in the first team as well.

The Arsenal Academy is not done just yet. There are more potential superstars coming through the ranks, and one of them could become the next William Saliba.

Arsenal coaches converted Marli Salmon from a forward to a centre-back

Marli Salmon is one of the most exciting young players coming through the ranks at Arsenal.

The 15-year-old has impressed a lot while playing in the heart of the defence, and many feel he is destined to play for the first team one day.

Some Arsenal fans have even branded Salmon as a ‘Saliba regen’ after watching him play for the academy sides.

The teenager has a massive future ahead of him as a centre-back, but not many people know that he was actually signed by Arsenal as a forward.

Speaking to the club’s official website, Salmon said: “I started out at grassroots with a local club called Global, and from there I was scouted by Arsenal. I went on trial at nine years old, and by the U11s, I was playing full seasons with the club. I’ve been here ever since.

“The switch to centre back happened during that first trial. I’d been scouted as a forward, but the coaches pushed me into defence. I played well, and it stuck.

“I was still young and just thrilled to be at Arsenal, so I didn’t mind where I played. Wearing the shirt was all that mattered.”

Marli Salmon is following in William Saliba’s footsteps

Salmon’s composure on the ball, his positional discipline and the way he anticipates danger are traits that Saliba possesses.

That is why the youngster often gets compared to the Arsenal number two, but there is another similarity.

Saliba recently claimed that he was a striker like Zlatan Ibrahimovic when he was a youngster.

We don’t know which player Salmon modelled his game on as a forward, but his transition from attack to defence mirrors Saliba’s own career path.

Salmon has claimed that he looks up to Saliba in training. If he learns from him and continues developing at the same rate, he could succeed the Arsenal star one day.