Marli Salmon: Mikel Arteta reveals plan for Arsenal youngster after impressive pre-season

Salmon was the only Arsenal player to feature for more than an hour and he was incredibly composed at centre-back.Salmon has pushed his case for first-team involvement in the opening weeks of the season and Arteta suggested more opportunities will come.“He’s in and around the first team,” Arteta said.“We know that obviously the circumstances are what they are, that’s the context that is allowing him to play more minutes.Marli Salmon has impressed throughout pre-seasonGetty“If we would have other players it would be more difficult. That doesn’t mean he wouldn’t get the chance to do so.“But what he’s proved in the last few weeks is that he’s reliable and when we want to play him, he can do a job.”Salmon made his Arsenal debut last season in the Champions League, coming off the bench away at Club Brugge.His development has gone somewhat under the radar in comparison to Max Dowman’s meteoric rise.However, the fact Arteta has been so willing to trust a 16-year-old defender has emphasised just how highly he rates Salmon.Asked what he most admires about Salmon’s game, Arteta replied: “First of all, the courage that he plays with.Read More“Second, how fast he learns. Sometimes at that age it takes weeks and months to develop certain things.“He picks things [up] really quickly. He’s a really smart boy, he wants it. He’s 16 years old and some of the individual actions he’s done today, I think he was exceptional.”