Arsenal’s rising star, William Saliba, has expressed his admiration for Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk, acknowledging the Dutchman’s commanding presence and influence as one of the world’s top defenders.
In a recent interview, Saliba praised van Dijk’s leadership and intimidation factor, stating that he “commands everything” and “scares strikers away.” The 23-year-old Arsenal defender also drew comparisons between himself and van Dijk, suggesting that he, too, is starting to “feel the same way” on the field.
Arsenal’s rising star, William Saliba, has praised Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk.
Saliba, who has been a key player in Arsenal’s impressive defense, conceded only 29 goals in the Premier League last season, outperforming their closest rivals. The Frenchman’s partnership with Gabriel has been instrumental in Arsenal’s success, and he is determined to continue improving his concentration and staying alert throughout matches.
While Saliba is yet to establish himself as a regular starter for France, he was included in the 26-man squad for the upcoming European Championships in Germany. He faces competition from Ibrahima Konate, van Dijk’s partner at Liverpool, but remains optimistic about his chances of breaking into the starting lineup.
The young defender has set ambitious goals for himself, ranking himself among the top three defenders in the Premier League. He attributes his success to hard work and humility, acknowledging that he still has room for improvement. Saliba also expressed confidence in Arsenal’s ability to challenge Manchester City for the Premier League title next season, believing that they can “have an even better war” against the reigning champions.
Saliba described van Dijk as a commanding presence who ‘scares strikers away’
Saliba’s confidence and ambition are evident, and he believes that his partnership with Gabriel has formed one of the best center-back duos in the league. Meanwhile, Gabriel, Saliba’s defensive partner at Arsenal, has revealed his dream club, expressing his desire to play for Corinthians, a club he has supported since childhood.
Despite speculation linking him to other clubs, Gabriel remains committed to Arsenal and was in talks for a new contract towards the end of the last campaign. However, he has not ruled out a future move to his dream club, stating that he would join Corinthians tomorrow if given the opportunity.