Arsenal could flip to 16-year-old as harm disaster deepens with defender dominated out

Arsenal could should rely on 16-year-old academy star Marli Salmon as their defensive harm disaster exhibits no indicators of letting up.

The highly-rated teenager has impressed within the under-18s and has even been in comparison with first-team star William Saliba.

Salmon (left) could soon be called upon as Arsenal's defensive crisis worsens — Salmon (left) might quickly be referred to as upon as Arsenal’s defensive disaster worsensCredit score: Getty

Salmon isn’t any stranger to the senior squad having made his debut in final week’s 3-0 Champions League win at Membership Brugge.

In doing so, he grew to become the fourth-youngest participant to function for the Gunners, aged 16 years and 103 days previous.

And his look is unlikely to be a flash within the pan with Arsenal missing defensive choices heading into the busy festive interval.

Restricted choices

Boss Mikel Arteta is already with out Ben White and Cristhian Mosquera till the brand new 12 months with simply Saliba and Jurrien Timber accessible on the suitable facet of Arsenal’s defence.

Arteta was compelled to deploy midfielder Christian Norgaard as a makeshift centre-back within the win over Membership Brugge.

However ought to the Spaniard want to line up with a pure right-sided defender within the coming weeks then Salmon is the following in line to fill in.

The teenager star would additionally present some much-needed versatility together with his means to function at each centre-back and right-back.

The fixtures are coming thick and quick for the Premier League leaders with a visit to Everton on Saturday night time earlier than going through Crystal Palace in a Carabao Cup quarter-final tie on December 23.

The Gunners then face back-to-back house video games towards Brighton and Aston Villa earlier than the flip of the 12 months after which they’ve crunch clashes with Bournemouth and Liverpool to kick off 2026.

Excessive hopes

Salmon, who has been part of the Arsenal set-up because the age of ten, might be set to play an essential position, ought to Arsenal’s harm woes deepen additional.

Arteta has just lately bedded in academy star Max Dowman and Salmon might be the following in lineCredit score: Getty

Initially a striker, Salmon penned scholarship phrases in July and will likely be eligible to signal his first skilled contract subsequent August when he turns 17.

Arsenal are hoping the defender can attain his full potential within the years to come back.

Arteta and his backroom crew has stored shut tabs on Salmon’s progress within the membership’s academy and even rewarded the starlet by deciding on him for the membership’s pre-season Asia Tour, aged simply 15.

He accompanied fellow teen sensation Max Dowman on the tour and featured within the pleasant matches towards AC Milan and Newcastle.

Salmon seems to have taken all of it in his stride because the summer season tour and admitted he’s prepared for an additional shot with the senior squad.

“I’ve performed at each stage from under-16s as much as the primary crew and, funnily sufficient, I’ve discovered it will get simpler the upper you go,” Salmon mentioned.