Mikel Merino was spotted offering words of encouragement to Marli Salmon following Arsenal’s penalty shoot-out victory over AC Milan in pre-season. The young centre-back, who continues to impress with his composure alongside max Dowman, is already on Arsenal’s radar as one for the future.
Mikel Arteta has clearly taken note of Salmon’s potential, including the teenage defender in the club’s senior pre-season squad. In the 66th minute against Milan, Salmon came on to replace William Saliba—a significant show of trust from Arteta. His night, however, ended on a bittersweet note as he missed a penalty in sudden death, following earlier misses from Martin Ødegaard, Reiss Nelson, and Jakub Kiwior.
Despite the miss, which came in an ultimately inconsequential shoot-out, Salmon handled himself with maturity. It was Merino’s post-match gesture that caught attention, though, as the experienced Spaniard made a point to console the teenager—an admirable display of leadership.
Merino’s actions likely didn’t surprise Arteta, who has previously praised the midfielder’s natural leadership. After a win over Brentford in January, Arteta said:
“More and more will come because he’s a natural leader as well, as he grows in the role. I think we’ll see much more from him.”
Salmon can hold his head high after a strong showing, and Merino’s support serves as a reminder of the unity and mentorship within Arsenal’s first team.
