ARSENAL fans are wasting no time in comparing William Saliba to Virgil Van Dijk after his brilliant display for Saint-Etienne over the weekend.
The 18-year-old was mightily impressive in the 1-0 away win over Bordeaux in Ligue 1.
It meant the fourth clean sheet in five games for Les Verts as they went to 10th in the table.
And one particular moment of strength and skill in the 86th minute left Arsenal supporters purring.
Saliba is shown muscling an opponent off the ball near the touchline, dispossessing him and stopping the ball going out of play before building an attack from the back.
It was exactly the kind of physicality fans want to see after spells of serious uncertainty in the Arsenal back line.
And it was enough to draw huge comparisons with the Liverpool defender who is favourite to win the Ballon d’Or.
One Arsenal fan said: “Keep the throne warm @VirgilvDijk, the new king is coming to takeover… #Saliba.”
Another wrote: “Saliba continued his resurgence into the ASSE team keeping another clean sheet away to Bordeaux today.
“Saliba played in a three man back three and dropped a masterclass as St-Etienne kept another clean sheet, that’s three clean sheets out of four in which Saliba has featured.
“French Van Dijk.”
A fellow user said: “In my opinion within two to three years as an Arsenal player William Saliba will surpass Virgil Van Dijk as one of the most sought after centre-backs in European Football.”
One supporter posted: “Saliba is already having the similar physique and style of play like Van Dijk and he’s just 18.”
Another comment read: “That’s as good as 1 on 1 defending gets. You see Van Dijk do that nearly every match.”
One wrote: “Urgently needed back at my club.”
Reports recently emerged saying Arsenal chiefs were slightly concerned with Saliba’s “groin strength” but still mightily impressed with the £27m signing overall.
The Gunners bought Saliba in July but he was loaned back to the French club until next season.
And fans were also declaring him a “future captain” after he led chants on a megaphone following a win over Lyon.
