Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta rejects comparisons between William Saliba and Virgil van Dijk
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Mikel Arteta dismisses comparisons between William Saliba and Virgil van Dijk… as the Arsenal boss reveals he is ‘very happy’ with the defender’s progress but wants the Frenchman to ‘make his own career’
- William Saliba has been compared to Virgil van Dijk after a good start at Arsenal
- Mikel Arteta, however, is not interested in comparisons between the pair
- He wants Saliba to focus on his own development and ‘make his own career’
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Mikel Arteta has dismissed comparisons between William Saliba and Virgil van Dijk, calling on the Arsenal defender to ‘make his own career’.
Saliba went straight to the Gunners’ backline at the start of the season after returning from his Marseille loan spell and was one of the team’s standout players in the early weeks of the campaign.
This has led some fans and pundits, including Jamie Carragher, to compare Saliba to van Dijk. The two centre-backs will face each other on Sunday when Arsenal face Liverpool, and Arteta was asked at his pre-match press conference if the Frenchman could match Van Dijk’s level.
William Saliba has started the season strong at the heart of Arsenal’s defence
He has been likened to Virgil van Dijk after moving seamlessly into Arsenal’s defence
“I am very happy with where he is at the moment. He is Saliba, he is no one else and he has to make his own career,’ Arteta replied.
Saliba has helped Arsenal keep three clean sheets in their first eight league games, putting them one point ahead of Manchester City at the top of the league table.
He has also scored twice to show that he is also a threat in the opponent’s field.
Asked what had impressed him most on Saliba this season, Arteta replied: “I think the way he’s established himself, the composure and leadership he’s shown on the pitch.
“And that it happens in such a natural way without the flashing lights, just being yourself, being very quiet and very confident at the same time.”
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has rejected comparisons between Saliba and van Dijk
Arsenal defeated Tottenham in the North London derby last weekend, prompting former manager Arsene Wenger to claim his former club should now be considered second favorite for the title, behind Manchester City.
Wenger also added that he believes Arsenal have a “good chance” of winning the league for the first time since 2004.
Arteta appreciates the club legend’s support and hopes his Arsenal side can prove Wenger right.
“It’s great that people who love the club so much and know the club so well have such an opinion about it. Now we have to show it on the pitch and hopefully he is right, as he has been right on many other occasions,” said Arteta.
