Kevin Campbell has likened Arsenal centre-back William Saliba to Virgil van Dijk and is confident the French defender will prove a point in the Premier League this season.
Saliba has spent the last three campaigns out on loan in Ligue 1, featuring for Saint Etienne, Nice and Marseille, but is now back at his parent club and eager to impress Mikel Arteta. The 21-year-old helped Marseille to a second-placed finish in the French top-flight in 2021/22 while also claiming the Young Player of the Year award for the division.
The France international now faces the challenge of becoming a first-team regular for the Gunners, who will be hopeful of securing Champions League football this term. Saliba has certainly caught the eye during the club's pre-season tour and Campbell is convinced he will take the next step in his career in the months ahead.
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Raving about the quality of the youngster, the ex-Everton and Arsenal forward told Football Insider: "If Virgil van Dijk is a Rolls Royce, Saliba is a Bentley.
Campbell continued: "He is never flustered, and his passing is a lot better than a lot of people give him credit for. He is smart, quick, strong, physical, powerful and does not make mistakes. I think he needed that extra year at Marseille if I am honest.
"I think that has really helped his confidence. Now when you see him play at Arsenal, and I know it is pre-season, he looks mature. We will find out a lot more when the season starts but from what I can see, Arsenal have got an absolute gem here. He is such a calming influence at the back.”
This is not the first time Saliba has been compared to Van Dijk, with a fitness coach who worked with the Arsenal star also sharing this view. Speaking to football.london last year, Nicolas St-Maurice said: "When I first saw him, I thought of Van Dijk because of his positions of plays and he has the right potential to make it far. I know a lot of young players I can see that some get distracted when they come to Dubai but he was working hard and he’s got the right environment."
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