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Arsenal youngster Marli Salmon was named on the bench for the first time in the Premier League in Saturday's game against Aston Villa. Salmon, 16, is one of a crop of exciting youngsters coming through the Arsenal academy and is in the same age group as Max Dowman, who has already made his first-team debut. He was one of two 15-year-olds on the Arsenal pre-season tour of Asia and featured against AC Milan and Newcastle United in Singapore. The now 16-year-old regularly trains with the first team and has captained Arsenal Under-19s in the Uefa Youth League. Salmon was originally scouted as a forward but was moved to centre-back in his first trial at the club and has stayed there ever since. And with William Saliba, Gabriel and Cristhian Mosquera missing the Villa game through injury, the teenager was brought in for defensive cover. He first trained with the first team when he joined the pre-season camp in Spain, just before the tour of Hong Kong and Singapore. Some supporters have compared the youngster to Saliba - his calmness and ability to read the game are similar to the France centre-back. Salmon has been highly rated by coaches for a long time at Arsenal, and making the bench for the first time at Villa Park is a big step in his development. He might join teenage sensations Rio Ngumoha of Liverpool and Chelsea's Estevao Willian in featuring in the top flight this season. This article is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team. Ask Me Anything is a service dedicated to answering your questions. We want to reward your time by telling you things you do not know and reminding you of things you do. The team will find out everything you need to know and be able to call upon a network of contacts including our experts and pundits. We will be answering your questions from the heart of the BBC Sport newsroom, and going behind the scenes at some of the world's biggest sporting events. Our coverage will span the BBC Sport website, app, social media and You Tube accounts, plus BBC TV and radio. Send us your questions Premier League: Trossard equalises for leaders Arsenal at Aston Villa England in tatters after dismal day in Brisbane Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: Hamilton knocked out in Q1 The rise and fall of four powerful civilisations How Skype lost its connection to the world Ridley Scott's masterful epic of betrayal and vengeance Wole Soyinka gives his account of Nigeria's Biafra war Plotting England and Scotland's routes through the World Cup Who are favourites to win the 2026 World Cup? Old and new foes - a look at England's World Cup group Who are the 2026 World Cup debutants? Australia in control of second Test despite late England fightback. Video Australia in control of second Test despite late England fightback How his mother's murder steeled Duncan for UFC's toughest fights 'Never going to be perfect' - Root defends 'jaded' England over drops 'A wonderful miracle' - how Messi & Beckham made Miami shine Memorable O'Sullivan moments as snooker great turns 50 'No more Average Joe as Root century seals all-time great status' 'I'm too driven. .. I never settle for not good enough' - Verstappen in-depth on title race Who has made Troy's Premier League team of the week? Trump and Infantino - too close for comfort? What's on Nancy's Celtic to-do list? How abnormal drugs test saved NFL player from cancer Success in 2025 - are the Lionesses ready for 2026? Where F1 title may be won and lost in three-way fight BBC to show Sabalenka v Kyrgios in 'Battle of Sexes' 'A fearless hero for hapless England' - Robin Smith obituary Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.