Marli Salmon makes Arsenal European history

In July 2025, Marli Salmon was signing his scholarship at Emirates Stadium. Fast-forward five months, and he's become the fourth-youngest player to ever represent Arsenal, after making his debut in the Champions League against Club Brugge.

From signing his deal in the summer to going on our pre-season tour to Asia, Marli came on for Ben White in the final 10 minutes in our 3-0 victory in Belgium, cementing his place in our history.

Marli isn't the first youngster to represent us in the Champions League and we've delved into the record books to see which other Gunners made their Arsenal bow in Europe's top competition.

marli's maiden match

Marli's introduction came in the 82nd minute with the match already at 3-0 thanks to two goals from Noni Madueke, the first a wonderstrike from 20 yards, as well as a sensational effort from Gabriel Martinelli.

His introduction, at 16 years and 103 days old, makes Marli the youngest Arsenal player to make their first-team debut in a European competition. 

Other players to make their Arsenal debuts in European competitions include Paul Vaessen, who played against Lokomotive Leipzig in 1978, Bukayo Saka, who made his first Gunners appearance against Vorskla Poltava in 2018 and Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who turned out for the first time in Arsenal against Galatasaray in 2014.

Marli is also the second-youngest player ever to play in the competition for us, a record also set this season by Max Dowman, who played in our 3-0 win over Slavia Prague at 15 years 308 days. 

Jack Wilshere is in third after coming on as a sub at 16 years 329 days in our win over Dynamo Kyiv in November 2008, with Serge Gnabry, at 17 years 101 days, our fourth-youngest after featuring against Schalke 04 in October 2012.

the kids are alright

Marli's Champions League bow is the latest feather in the cap of our academy and the work done at Hale End.

The defender's appearance in Bruges slots him in as our fourth youngest appearance maker in our entire history, and what makes that even more impressive is that the three players ahead of him are all still at the club, having all been given their debuts by Mikel Arteta. 

Ethan Nwaneri holds the record, having made his bow at Brentford in September 2022, closely followed by Dowman, who debuted against Leeds United back in August. Goalkeeper Jack Porter is third, who appeared in a League Cup tie with Bolton Wanderers last term.

young lions

Leytonstone-born Marli has represented England at both under-16 and under-17 level, recently joining Porter in the squad for the U17 World Cup in Qatar.

Marli's debut against Club Brugge means we now hold the honour of having the three youngest English players to play in the Champions League, with Dowman and Wilshere completing the line-up. 

On top of that, we are the only side to have three English players play in the Champions League who were 16 years old or younger: