The Arsenal U18s had to settle for a 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur in what was an eventful game.
The young Gunners fielded a few U21 regulars in the North London Derby.
Marli Salmon, who is viewed by many as the next big Hale End prospect, was one of them, but his game didn’t go to plan.
The teenager received a red card for doing something that Mikel Arteta is not a fan of.
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Marli Salmon gets a red card during Tottenham U18s vs Arsenal U18s
Games between Arsenal and Tottenham are always heated – even at the academy level.
The North London Derby means everything for players from the two sides, and that was evident in the clash at Hotspur Way on Saturday.
The Arsenal U18s took an early lead thanks to a fine strike from Ceadach O’Neill. Spurs went ahead with goals either side of half-time from Luca Williams-Barnett.
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Teshaun Murisa levelled the game a few minutes later, but chaos unfolded soon after.
Salmon and Spurs’ George Feeney clashed in the middle of the park after a challenge from the former, and the two players angrily went at each other.
The referee took his time and then sent off both players for violent conduct. Arsenal were then reduced to nine men, as Josiah King was also shown a red card later in the game.
The young Gunners held on and the derby finished 2-2, but Salmon must be hoping that his senior team manager will not have seen the incident leading to his red card.
Mikel Arteta has already made his feelings clear about red cards for violent conduct
There was a period under Arteta when Arsenal received a number of red cards.
Some of them were due to terrible refereeing decisions, while others were because of poor tackles.
Arteta wasn’t too fussed with his players in those instances, but back in November 2020, when Nicolas Pepe was sent off for violent conduct after a headbutt on Leeds United’s Ezgjan Alioski, the Arsenal manager was furious.
After the game, he told the BBC: “It is unacceptable. Unacceptable. At this level, you cannot do it.” Arteta also claimed that Pepe ‘let the team down’.
That is why the Spaniard will not be happy with Salmon’s red card either, as composure is key in heated games like the North London Derby.
However, the defender is still only 16 years old, so we’re sure he will learn from it and be better.