Virgil van Dijk, extensively considered one of many high 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 purpose for extra success together with his staff. Regardless of his accolades, Van Dijk center-back was humble in his reward for certainly one of Arsenal’s rising defensive stars.
On talks with Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand, van Dijk was requested to call a defender at the moment excelling within the recreation, and he didn’t hesitate to decide on Arsenal’s William Saliba: “Saliba is making excellent steps in the intervening time, he’s a stable one, in possession he’s doing an excellent job… , I believe if I’m sincere, once I was that age, I used to be nowhere close to the place he was at the moment.
Van Dijk went on to debate how finding out elite defenders helps him proceed bettering his personal recreation. “I like to observe different defenders and choose up so many things from them. There’s so many good ball enjoying within the heart half… I undoubtedly watch video games specifically on the best degree. You possibly can all the time choose up sure issues, but in addition take note of that groups are defending otherwise that we’re defending, so you need to hold that in thoughts too,” Van Dijk stated.
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 progress. “I really feel like at any age you may continue learning, and I undoubtedly nonetheless try 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 might be trying ahead to maintain surprising followers and gamers together with his performances.
Saliba’s outstanding type 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 type earned him a spot within the PFA Premier League Workforce of the 12 months alongside teammate Martin Ødegaard. Additionally, at simply 23, Saliba has already set data with the Gunners, turning into the quickest participant in membership historical past to achieve 50 Premier League wins, attaining the feat in solely 66 appearances.
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