Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool has won the admiration of Arsenal defender William Saliba, who has dubbed him the finest defender in the Premier League. Saliba thinks he is progressively catching up to van Dijk. He ranks himself among the best three defenders in the league and draws comparisons to the Liverpool player.
Saliba said to L’Equipe, “[Virgil] Van Dijk has aura. He’s the boss. He commands everything. You can feel he’s scaring strikers away. And I’m starting to feel the same way. I think I am in the top three [defenders in the league]. We finished with the best defence. I watch a lot of matches and I am a very humble person but last season, just like this season, I am in the top three defenders. I need to continue to work to go even higher. In terms of concentration, I am a lot better. Before, I could play a top match but in one phase of play, I slept a bit. That is no longer the case. I am always on alert.”
The French international of 23 years old has been superb for Arsenal. He has become one of their greatest players and, with instruction and experience, keeps becoming better. Even at his early age, he has made a lot of development and drawn interest from Real Madrid.
William Saliba Compares Himself With Virgil Van Dijk
Saliba should keep getting better, Arsenal thinks. He may develop into an elite player. Ever since he arrived, Virgil van Dijk has changed Liverpool, helping them win both the UEFA Champions League and the Premier League. Arsenal believes Saliba can make a similar difference at their team.
Arsenal now boasts a strong backline thanks to Saliba’s tightening up of their defense. Though they came up short in the championship game, the Gunners had an excellent defensive season. See whether they can make the required changes over the summer transfer window and return to the field stronger the following season would be intriguing. Saliba will be instrumental in directing Arsenal, which wants to be a league championship challenger.
Together with his defensive prowess, the 23-year-old has shown maturity and leadership characteristics. Soon enough, he may rise to become one of the Arsenal dressing room leaders. Like van Dijk at Liverpool, his impact on the team may increase.
What’s next?
Saliba shows how much he respects van Dijk with his compliments. Van Dijk discourages attackers with his presence on the pitch. That is the degree of impact and efficacy Saliba hopes to achieve. He thinks he is going in the right direction and considers himself to be one of the league’s best defenders.
Saliba is much awaited by Arsenal followers. He can, in their opinion, become a pillar of the defense and guide the squad to future triumphs. Watching Saliba is a pleasure because of his development and commitment to betterment. Arsenal expects he can guide them to victory in the next seasons, and his path parallels van Dijk’s ascent.
William Saliba’s respect for Virgil van Dijk, then, highlights his desire to become the Premier League’s best defensive player. With the support of his team and his present trajectory, Saliba has a chance to get to the top of the league, if not the globe, as a defender.
