Jamie Carragher compares William Saliba’s impact at Arsenal to Virgil van Dijk’s at Liverpool

Jamie Carragher praised William Saliba’s impact at Arsenal this season, but still feels the defender has ‘a long way to go’ to reach Virgil van Dijk’s level.

Saliba returned to the Emirates Stadium in the summer after three separate loan spells in France, and was instrumental in Arsenal’s positive start to the season, moving them to the top of the league table. They are currently 11 points clear of ninth seeded Liverpool.

The two sides will face each other on Sunday and comparisons have been made between Saliba and van Dijk in recent weeks. Carragher has admitted to seeing similarities between the pair, but believes Saliba needs to prove himself over a longer period of time.

Saliba has been compared to Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk after impressing at Arsenal

‘Saliba is a modern central defender in the form of Van Dijk. He is quick enough to deal with the fastest attackers, strong in the air to take on the target’s men, and comfortable in possession to ensure his side can play from behind,” Carragher wrote in his statement. Daily Telegram column on Friday.

Yes, these are the early days and Saliba has a long way to go to match Van Dijk’s long-standing influence at Liverpool, but he has had an immediate impact on how structurally a previously weak defense looks.

“There is an echo of Van Dijk’s early months at Anfield.”

Arsenal’s defensive stats have improved since Saliba came on the team, and Carragher believes the Frenchman’s versatile play has played an important role in the team’s development.

“So far Arsenal are getting fewer goals and shots per game than last season, and there has been a significant drop in the number of touches that opponents are getting in their penalty area,” he continued.

Jamie Carragher sees similarities between Saliba and Van Dijk, but thinks the Arsenal defender has more to do to reach the Dutchman’s level

“The main tactical difference a player like Saliba makes is that he allows the team to play higher up the pitch and trusts their fast, versatile mid-half to react when strikers try to catch up.

“This has also been the basis of Liverpool’s approach under Klopp, which is why there is so much attention for Van Dijk’s level at the moment.

“He was the player picked when the defense looked imperious, so naturally he’s the center of attention when they look more vulnerable, although it’s the collective responsibility of the team to make such a defensive style work. ‘

Mikel Arteta’s side have won seven of their first eight games, but Carragher believes their lone defeat to Manchester United emphasized that Saliba and Arsenal need to get even better if they are to retain a title this season.

‘So far, Saliba is a perfect match for Arteta, although he will occasionally show inexperience. His misjudgment recently enabled Marcus Rashford to score on the counter-attack at Old Trafford,” he added.

Arsenal paid a heavy price by losing a game they should have won. While that’s the only blemish this season, it showed where Arsenal need to improve to get close to the extraordinary standards of Liverpool and Manchester City.”