While much of the attention around Arsenal remains focused on the first team, it has also been an extremely busy week behind the scenes at academy level.The Gunners have confirmed the arrivals of four talented youngsters in Igor Tyjon, James Scanlon, Axel Donczew and Habeeb Ogunneye, while highly-rated defender Marli Salmon has signed his first professional contract with the club.The five announcements underline Arsenal’s continued focus on developing young talent, with the latest recruits bringing an interesting mixture of academy, senior and even international experience to north London.Igor Tyjon arrives from Blackburn RoversArsenal confirmed the signing of 18-year-old striker Igor Tyjon from Blackburn Rovers, with the youngster already having tasted senior football.Tyjon was only 16 when he made his professional debut for Blackburn in the Championship against Bristol City and went on to make three first-team appearances for the club.The forward has represented both England at various youth levels and Poland Under-16s, and featured for England at the Under-17 World Cup in Qatar last year.Tyjon already knows several youngsters at Arsenal through international football, including Jack Porter, Elijah Upson, Theo Julienne and Max Dowman.The striker made it clear that Arsenal’s pathway for young players was an important factor in his decision, while the opportunity to join the reigning Premier League champions certainly didn’t hurt either.“Who doesn’t want to join the champions? I can’t wait to be part of the team.”Gibraltar international James Scanlon joins ArsenalThere is already significant senior experience behind Arsenal’s second new arrival, despite James Scanlon being only 19.The winger has remarkably accumulated 24 senior caps for Gibraltar, featuring in World Cup qualifiers and UEFA Nations League matches.Scanlon also spent the second half of last season on loan at League Two side Swindon Town, where he scored his first senior club goal and gained valuable experience of playing regularly in a senior environment.Describing himself as a creative player who likes to score and assist, Scanlon believes Arsenal is a club heading in the right direction.“You can see that everyone here is hungrier for more, hungrier to get better and I think that’s something I believe I can add to.”Axel Donczew becomes part of Arsenal’s scholarship intakeAt just 16, Axel Donczew represents a slightly different type of addition.The Welsh midfielder has joined Arsenal from Cardiff City as part of the club’s first-year scholarship intake and has also signed a pre-contract agreement which will see him eventually sign professional terms with the Gunners.Despite his age, Donczew has already made history in senior football.He became Cardiff City’s youngest-ever player last season when, aged just 15 years and 234 days, he featured against Newport County in the EFL Trophy.Donczew has represented Wales at Under-15 and Under-16 level and is also eligible to represent Poland.Habeeb Ogunneye becomes Arsenal’s latest arrivalArsenal’s latest announcement brings another youngster with experience of senior football to the academy.Full-back Habeeb Ogunneye arrives having previously developed at Manchester United before spending the first half of last season on loan at Newport County.He scored during his time with the League Two club and helped Newport in their fight against relegation, gaining his first experience of the physical demands and pressure of senior football.There is also something of a homecoming involved. Ogunneye was born in Hackney and still has family there, describing his move back to north London as a “full-circle moment”.Like Tyjon, Arsenal’s record of giving opportunities to academy players clearly played an important part in his decision.“Seeing all the young players that are coming through as well, so I just wanted to come straight away.”Ogunneye has also represented England at Under-17 level and now wants to continue his development at Arsenal.Marli Salmon signs his first professional Arsenal contractWhile four youngsters have arrived from elsewhere, there has also been an important milestone for one player who already knows Hale End extremely well.Marli Salmon signed his first professional contract on his 17th birthday, seven years after initially joining Arsenal at Under-11 level.Interestingly, Salmon arrived as an attacker before developing into the imposing defender Arsenal supporters see today.His progress accelerated considerably last season, when he was included in Mikel Arteta’s first-team squad on several occasions.The biggest moment came away to Club Brugge in Belgium, where Salmon replaced Ben White in the 83rd minute to make his professional debut.He was also around the senior squad during Arsenal’s successful push for the Premier League title, an experience which gave the teenager a close-up view of the standards required to become champions.“Being around that was amazing. You see so many one-percents that go into it.”After signing professional terms, Salmon now has his sights set on earning further opportunities with the first team.(Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images)Arsenal continue investing in their academy pathwayWhat is particularly interesting about Arsenal’s latest academy business is the experience already accumulated by several of these youngsters.Tyjon has played Championship football, Scanlon is already a full international with 24 caps, Donczew became Cardiff’s youngest-ever player and Ogunneye has experienced the demands of League Two.Salmon, meanwhile, provides an example from within Hale End of where that pathway can potentially lead, having progressed from an Under-11 attacker to a professional defender who has already represented Arsenal’s senior side.There are obviously no guarantees when it comes to young players fulfilling their potential, but Arsenal are certainly continuing to strengthen the talent beneath Mikel Arteta’s senior squad.Four new arrivals and another Hale End youngster signing professional terms makes this a particularly busy and encouraging week for the Arsenal academy.Which of Arsenal’s latest young additions are you most excited to follow, and could Marli Salmon be the next Hale End graduate to establish himself in Mikel Arteta’s first team? 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