Van Dijk Admits He Wasn't as Good as Saliba at the Same Age
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London – Arsenal’s William Saliba is currently one of the brightest young defenders in the Premier League, and even Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk has taken notice. The seasoned Dutch center-back recently admitted that he wasn’t on the same level as Saliba when he was that age. Saliba initially signed for Arsenal during the summer of 2019, and his path was far from smooth right from the beginning as he joined the club. He then spent three seasons out on loan as the Gunners felt that he required further experience before being thrown into the deep end and testing himself in the demands of the Premier League. However, since coming back to Arsenal for the 2022/23 season, Saliba has been a steady influence and a very capable defender.
Van Dijk Admits He Wasn't as Good as Saliba at the Same Age
At 23, Van Dijk was still coming along in Southampton, albeit with much less input than what he contributes for Liverpool now. Looking back across the Atlantic, comparing their journeys, Van Dijk felt that he was nowhere near Saliba's level at his same age. During an interview with former football star Rio Ferdinand on Ferdinand's YouTube channel, Van Dijk didn't mince words when speaking of Saliba's rise:. Saliba is doing really well, actually, at this moment, said Van Dijk. "He's the first one who comes into my mind, actually. He's just a very solid talent, he added according to Metro.
With his performance in Arsenal, William Saliba has managed to glue fans and football analysts alike. Since breaking into the first team, this young French centre-back has been lauded for his calmness, genuine intelligence, and physicality on the pitch-all qualities setting him apart from the crowd of other vignettes. Look, the fans and pundits often speak about Saliba and how mature he should be for his age, possessing defensive skills most players learned after a long time playing the sport.
Probably one of his standout traits is not going into a panic no matter the amount of pressure brought onto him, which has made Saliba an instant hit among the Arsenal faithful. He rarely looks fazed-be it Premier League strikers or high-intensity games.
This level of composure has given fans confidence in his abilities and has helped solidify Arsenal’s defense, a key factor in the team’s recent success. His skill at reading the game is often compared to that of seasoned defenders, and it’s become clear that Saliba has a natural instinct for anticipating plays and positioning himself effectively to shut down opponents.
Moreover, Saliba’s technical abilities have added a new dimension to Arsenal’s defense. He’s comfortable with the ball at his feet, often initiating plays from the back and contributing to Arsenal’s build-up play, a trait that aligns well with the modern, possession-based game. Fans appreciate that he not only defends robustly but also has the finesse to contribute to Arsenal’s attacking transitions, often playing out from the back with confidence and precision. The public respects Saliba's work rate and his humility, too. Along with the rapid growth he showed, he is still on an orderly pace, making him very likable in the eyes of fans of Arsenal. Fans look up to him as someone who works on his game a lot, learning day by day, perfecting his craft. For that alone, Saliba is mentioned as one who is likely to be in the leadership reins of the team later and perhaps one of the finest defenders of his generation, bringing promise that does not only echo with the fans of Arsenal but with all lovers of football worldwide.
Tags :
#virgil van dijk
#william saliba
#arsenal
#liverpool
#liga inggris
#Premiere League
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