Virgil van Dijk, extensively thought to be one of many prime defenders of latest years, performed an important function in Liverpool‘s 2018-19 UEFA Champions League and 2019-20 Premier League titles and continues to intention for extra success together with his workforce. Regardless of his accolades, Van Dijk center-back was humble in his reward for one in every of Arsenal’s rising defensive stars.
On talks with Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand, van Dijk was requested to call a defender presently excelling within the recreation, and he didn’t hesitate to decide on Arsenal’s William Saliba: “Saliba is making excellent steps for the time being, he’s a stable one, in possession he’s doing job… , I believe if I’m trustworthy, after I was that age, I used to be nowhere close to the place he was immediately.
Van Dijk went on to debate how finding out elite defenders helps him proceed enhancing his personal recreation. “I like to observe different defenders and decide up so many things from them. There’s so many good ball taking part in within the middle half… I undoubtedly watch video games specifically on the best degree. You’ll be able to all the time decide up sure issues, but in addition keep in mind that groups are defending differently that we’re defending, so you need to preserve that in thoughts too,” Van Dijk mentioned.
Regardless of his achievements, together with profitable PFA Gamers’ Participant of the 12 months, Premier League Participant of the Season, and even competing with Lionel Messi for the Ballon d’Or, van Dijk emphasised the significance of ongoing development. “I really feel like at any age you’ll be able to continue to learn, and I undoubtedly nonetheless do this,” he ended.
Saliba was signed to be a part of a younger undertaking led by supervisor Mikel Arteta in Arsenal. Regardless of being Premier League’s runners-up final season, the Frenchman can be trying ahead to maintain surprising followers and gamers together with his performances.
Saliba’s outstanding kind with Arsenal
Saliba has been pivotal in Arsenal’s resurgence beneath supervisor Mikel Arteta. Integral to the 2023-24 marketing campaign, the younger center-back featured in 50 of Arsenal’s 52 video games, turning into the primary Arsenal participant within the Premier League period to play each minute of a league season.
His spectacular kind earned him a spot within the PFA Premier League Group of the 12 months alongside teammate Martin Ødegaard. Additionally, at simply 23, Saliba has already set information with the Gunners, turning into the quickest participant in membership historical past to achieve 50 Premier League wins, reaching the feat in solely 66 appearances.
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