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The Dutch defender answered questions astir Arsenal's towering centre-back
Liverpool skipper Virgil Van Dijk offered precocious praise for Arsenal defender William Saliba, who has earned comparisons to the Dutch defender himself.
Known for his commanding beingness and antiaircraft prowess astatine Liverpool, Van Dijk has often been the benchmark for elite centre-backs, yet helium acknowledged Saliba’s accelerated advancement astatine Arsenal has threatened his spot successful the pantheon of English football.
Van Dijk praises Saliba’s maturation and talent
Since breaking into Arsenal's archetypal team, Saliba has consistently impressed nether manager Mikel Arteta, earning him comparisons to immoderate of the champion centre-backs successful Premier League history.
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Saliba’s coagulated concern with Gabriel Magalhaes has been the bedrock of Arsenal’s past 2 rubric challenges, and the Dutch defender has noticed the Frenchman’s quality.
Discussing Saliba’s rise, Van Dijk was refreshingly candid, expressing admiration for his younger counterpart:
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Speaking connected comparisons betwixt himself and Saliba, van Dijk told Rio Ferdinand connected the Rio Ferdinand Presents show, “Obviously Saliba’s making precise bully steps astatine the moment. I deliberation if I’m honest, erstwhile I was that age, I was obscurity adjacent wherever helium is today.”
Lampard not definite of Saliba and Gabriel partnership
Despite van DIjk’s unfastened admiration for Saliba, different Premier League legends stay unconvinced of Saliba and his concern with Gabriel for Arsenal.
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Chelsea icon Frank Lampard besides precocious shared his sentiment connected the Arsenal duo but was acold little praise for the centre-back pairing.
Speaking astir Saliba and Gabriel being compared to different Premier League icons, Lampard said, "I mean, if they spell and triumph 2 oregon 3 Premier Leagues and a Champions League, past possibly you tin comparison them.
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"I'm not putting them down. They are fantastic. They're young. They're increasing each the time. It's not just to marque that examination due to the fact that this is each up of them now, but astatine this point, no.”
Saliba has already won 2 Community Shield titles with Arsenal, but the Frenchman volition request to adhd much trophies to his postulation to beryllium mentioned alongside greats similar van Dijk and Ferdinand.
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