Arsenal have decided that highly-rated defender Marli Salmon could be sent out on loan after he signed his first professional contract, with his first-team opportunities further reduced by the £55 million arrival of Erzi Konsa from Aston Villa.
Salmon signs first professional deal
The Gunners confirmed the news on Saturday, which coincided with Salmon’s 17th birthday. The centre-back, who can also play at right-back, expressed his pride at the milestone, saying: “A lot of hard work that went into this, a lot of ups and downs, but I’m so proud. I’m looking forward to attacking the season. I gave myself a good start, so let’s see what it holds.”
Salmon made four first-team appearances last season, including a start in the FA Cup win over Mansfield, though he is yet to feature in the Premier League. He has been training regularly with Mikel Arteta’s first-team and impressed during pre-season, earning widespread praise for his performances.
Loan move possible after deadline day
According to The Athletic, a loan move is a possibility, but not before the transfer deadline on Tuesday, September 1. Arsenal’s plan is to keep the England youth international around the first-team environment for at least the first half of the season, with his situation to be reassessed during the January transfer window.
Salmon was not included in the matchday squad for Arsenal’s opening two league games, and his chances of senior minutes have been dealt a further blow following the arrival of Konsa. The 23-year-old is expected to make his Gunners debut against his former club when Arsenal travel to Villa Park on Monday night.
Learning from the first team
Despite the uncertainty, Salmon remains positive about his development. He told the club’s media: “It’s always a good experience to be around [the first-team]. You learn so much, not even just on the pitch, but off the pitch, about how they prepare and how they carry themselves. It’s valuable, I’m so grateful for who I’ve got here. You get to learn and see them in person, you see so much detail, it’s very good.”
With William Saliba and Jurrien Timber sidelined through injury, there was hope Salmon might earn more senior minutes this season. However, the club’s decision to invest heavily in Konsa suggests the teenager’s path to regular first-team football may be blocked for now, making a temporary move a realistic option to aid his development.
