William Saliba: Arsenal Defender Names 4 Attributes He Copies From Van Dijk

• Virgil van Dijk has been one of the best defenders since his world-record move to Liverpool in 2018
• The Dutch defender was named UEFA's best player and 2nd in the Ballon d'Or rankings in 2019
• Arsenal star, William Saliba shot into the limelight last season and was quickly compared to van Dijk

Arsenal defender, William Saliba is a fan of Virgil van Dijk and has highlighted four important attributes of the Liverpool man he models his game after.

Van Dijk has been one of the world's best defenders since he moved from Southampton to Liverpool in the winter of 2018. His move cost a world record fee for a defender before it was surpassed by Harry Maguire to Manchester United more than a year later.

He helped Liverpool to a second UEFA Champions League final in as many years, beating fellow Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur in the final in 2019.

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He was named UEFA Player of the Year and came close to winning the Ballon d'Or, losing to Lionel Messi, who picked up his sixth award by beating the Dutchman on points in 2019.

Saliba idolises van Dijk

French defender, William Saliba was thrown into the first team at Arsenal last season after a successful loan spell at Marseille. He immediately became an essential figure in the team.

He is praised for his calmness and composure on the ball, and he has now revealed whom he models his game after for those attributes.

"I still watch him [van Dijk]!" he told Daily Mail. "I really like his quality in one-against-one, his calmness, his composure and his long balls as well. He has everything and, for me, he was a good defender to learn from.

"I think he was – for two or three years – the best defender in the world."

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The 22-year-old may not see himself on the impact level of the former Celtic defender, but his teammate, Gabriel Jesus, named him as the player the Gunners can't afford to lose next season, as reported by Evening Standard.

Saliba's importance to Arsenal

Sports Brief analysed Saliba's importance to Arsenal after the France international defender's contract was extended by another four years till 2027.

He missed the final 11 games of last season after a back injury suffered in the Europa League quarter-final against Sporting Lisbon, and the team's stats in areas he contributed to dropped.