ARSENAL teenager Marli Salmon briefly etched his name into the FA Cup record books — but the moment was snatched away in just six seconds.
The 16-year-old academy prospect made history when he started Arsenal‘s 2-1 win over Mansfield Town in the fifth round of the FA Cup.
Salmon became the youngest player ever to touch the ball in a fifth-round tie or later since the Second World War.
The centre-half met a clearance inside the opening minute of the game and, at 16 years and 190 days, set the new modern-era benchmark for the competition.
But incredibly, the record did not last long.
Just six seconds later, fellow Arsenal youngster Max Dowman took possession — instantly becoming the new record holder.
Dowman, aged 16 years and 66 days, bettered Salmon’s mark to claim the title of youngest player to touch the ball at that stage of the FA Cup in the post-war era.
Despite breaking Salmon’s record, Dowman is still slightly older than the all-time benchmark set by Wolves legend Jimmy Mullen, who achieved the feat in March 1939 at just 16 years and 57 days.
The Arsenal pair also created another slice of history by simply starting together.
Salmon and Dowman became the first two 16-year-olds to start the same game for a top-flight club in any competition since 1967.
That previous instance came when Chelsea youngsters Ian “Chico” Hamilton and Kingsley Whiffen lined up together against Leicester City almost six decades ago.
Before that, the last comparable moment came all the way back in 1939, when Mullen and Wolves teammate Alan Steen started together.
It highlights just how rare Arsenal’s youthful pairing is from Premier League sides.
And if the teenagers manage to match the longevity of some Premier League veterans, they could still be playing decades from now.
Brighton’s James Milner holds the all-time Premier League record for appearances, breaking Gareth Barry‘s record of 653 to reach 655+ matches as of March 2026.
Milner is still competing in the top flight at 40, meaning Salmon and Dowman could theoretically still be playing in 2050 if they follow a similar career path.
For now though, Salmon can claim one unique piece of football trivia — the FA Cup record that lasted just six seconds.
Mikel Arteta‘s side now await their quarter-final opponents.
The draw will take place today, before the fifth-round tie between West Ham and Brentford.
The draw is expected to commence at around 7:05pm on TNT Sports.
