Three Arsenal youth players have been spotted with the first-team squad ahead of Sunday afternoon’s FA Cup match at home to Wigan Athletic.
Arsenal youth trio Ceadach O’Neill, Marli Salmon, and Khari Ranson have all been spotted with the Gunners’ senior squad ahead of Sunday’s match against Wigan Athletic, suggesting they could be included on the bench for the FA Cup clash.
O’Neill can play on the wings or at centre-forward, Salmon is a centre-back who can also operate at full-back, and Ranson is a goalkeeper. But it’s unlikely any of the three start the match, with O’Neill and Salmon having already started youth matches this weekend.
Salmon started for the Arsenal u21s against Newcastle United on Friday, coming off at half time. Then O’Neill started and scored for the Arsenal u18s on Saturday, again coming off at half-time.
The fact both were withdrawn early suggests Arsenal always planned to give them matchday opportunities with the first team this weekend, but if they were set to start for Mikel Arteta’s side they probably wouldn’t have been risked at all in the academy matches.
As for Ranson, the goalkeeper is very unlikely to come in ahead of Kepa Arrizabalaga or Tommy Setford, both of whom have also been spotted with the first-team squad. That’s assuming David Raya is given a rest to begin with.
Perhaps the inclusion of both Setford and Ranson with the squad suggests Raya may be rested completely, as Arsenal generally only use three goalkeepers on matchdays. But there are no guarantees.
Salmon is certainly the most likely to make it onto the pitch, as the 16-year-old has been playing well for the u21s and he’s already made a couple of senior appearances under Arteta.
Arsenal are likely to play a heavily-rotated side for the match, having only played against Brentford on Thursday with another Premier League match away to Wolves coming up next Wednesday.
That Wolves match is itself only days before the north London derby at the weekend, so this really is the chance to give a few first-choice players a break. Then it’s up to the backups to see Arsenal into the fifth round.