‘No one could stop him’: Arsenal defender William Saliba draws Van Dijk and Varane comparisons

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Arsenal defender, William Saliba, has been branded as a ‘monster’ who is like both Virgil van Dijk and Rafael Varane, according to his former youth coach, Jean-Luc Vannuchi.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Vannuchi – who managed Saliba as a youngster – spoke of his admiration for the Arsenal starlet ahead of what will be his debut season in the Premier League.

He impressed last season in France with St Etienne and is now set to be given a chance by Mikel Arteta to prove his worth at the elite level of English football.

And Vannuchi is firm in his belief that Saliba will succeed with the Gunners if he gets the opportunity.

“A mix of the two styles. With Varane because of his speed and power, and with Van Dijk, it is the interceptions, the positioning on the pitch. 

“When he took the ball and ran into midfield, no one could stop him. He was like a monster compared to the others. When he played with Saint-Etienne it looked normal for him, even though he was so young.”

Arsenal fans are excited to see what the future holds for Saliba and comments like this will only excite them further.

Mikel Arteta is currently reshaping his squad at The Emirates. Gabriel Magalhaes is expected to arrive in the coming days, which could well form the basis of the defence along with Saliba.

High praise indeed, Saliba seems to be the real deal – TBR View

Arsenal fans are, rightly, excited by the prospect of Saliba turning in some fine displays for their team and it looks like the club have a fine talent on their hands.

Saliba looked excellent last season and the term ‘monster’ probably sums him up, albeit with some added quality in there.

Hopefully, for the Gunners, Saliba adapts nicely to the Premier League and can go on to become a key player for them for years to come.