‘He is ready’ – Mikel Arteta highlights academy player who could step up amid injury crisis | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta says young defender Marli Salmon has what it takes to step up if needed given the Gunners’ injury issues.

Defenders Gabriel, Christian Mosquera, and Ben White are all currently sidelined through injury.

16-year-old Salmon was taken on the Gunners’ tour to Asia in preseason, where he impressed against the likes of Newcastle United and AC Milan and has also played for the first team in the Champions League this season.

“You have to be able to cope physically, but mentally it’s ‘can I do this?’ and it’s a position obviously that exposes you big time,” Arteta explained. “You don’t do what you have to do, and they are through [on goal]. But he’s emotionally a really stable boy; he wants it, and it is still very early in his career, but he’s a really good prospect.

When asked if Salmon was ready to play in the Premier League, Arteta responded: “Yes, and he can play as a centre-back or as a full-back. He did it in the Champions League the other day, and I always tell the boys you are here for a reason and be ready… You have to be ready for it.”

“It has to be both ways, always when there’s a relationship. It has to be understanding, and there are certain signals and certain chemistries that we have to build. I quite like what I’ve seen in the last few games, and he was very unlucky not to get… in front of the keeper without any defenders three or four times.”

The Gunners make the trip to the Hill Dickinson Stadium for the first time on Saturday night, when they could potentially have been knocked off their perch at the top of the league table by Manchester City, due to the Cityzens playing earlier in the day.

The Spaniard also spoke about striker Viktor Gyokeres, who has not found the back of the net since his return from injury in late November. “[We need to understand] the way he thinks, the way he interacts with people, the timing of his run and his movements,” Arteta said.