Virgil van Dijk compares himself to Arsenal star William Saliba

Arsenal fans have seen an increasing number of comparisons between William Saliba and Virgil van Dijk. The latest has come from... Virgil van Dijk himself.

Arsenal saw four of their players rank for the 2024 Ballon d'Or. Surprisingly high on the list, considering his position not usually being favoured, was William Saliba.

That said, it is impossible to deny William Saliba of his position among the most elite players. Over the last two and a bit seasons, William Saliba has emerged into one of the best players in the world for his position.

The French defender is now considered by many as the best Premier League defender. Naturally, then, the closest comparison is Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool, who held that title for a long while.

Virgil van Dijk compares himself to Arsenal star William Saliba

Speaking to the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, Virgil van Dijk highlighted William Saliba as one defender who he has his eyes on. He praised his work and even compared himself to Saliba at Saliba's age.

In his own words, Virgil van Dijk said: "Obviously, Saliba's making very good steps at the moment. He's the first one I just have in mind now. He's a solid one. I think in possession, he's doing a good job."

Comparing the two, van Dijk added: "Yeah [he reminds me of myself], maybe. I think, if I'm honest, when I was that age, I was nowhere near where he was today."

Coming from a player who more than understands defending, this is a great compliment paid to William Saliba. Throughout time, there has been a great respect between fellow defenders, so it is a classy act for Virgil van Dijk to hype up Saliba like this.

Given that fans are often sucked into the echo chamber of social media, it is easy to imagine that players think in the same way as fans. Therefore, it would be assumed that there was animosity between Saliba and van Dijk. As proven, this couldn't be further from the truth.

It is quite unbelievable that William Saliba is just 23 years old. The defender plays with an abundance of maturity, so he often appears as the most senior player on the pitch.

This only means that Arsenal fans have plenty more to be excited about when it comes to William Saliba. He will only improve, which is a frightening thought for the rest of the Premier League.

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