In the ongoing conversation surrounding the world’s best footballers, Arsenal supporters have reason to cheer, as William Saliba has been ranked higher than Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk in the latest FourFourTwo top 100 players list.
Saliba’s ascent is a testament to Arsenal’s robust squad development under manager Mikel Arteta, who has built a team now seen as strong contenders for this season’s Premier League title.
Saliba, who has flourished since returning from his loan spell at Marseille, finds himself at number eight in the rankings, an impressive feat that sees him seven places ahead of van Dijk.
Van Dijk, now in his 30s, has been the subject of scrutiny recently, as many have questioned his form and noted that he may be past his peak, particularly when compared to his dominant displays during Liverpool’s title-winning campaign a few seasons ago.
A key part of Arsenal’s resurgence has been the solid defensive partnership between Saliba and Gabriel, which has been instrumental in their success this season.
Arsenal’s strength in depth is further highlighted by the presence of two other players within the top 20 of the FourFourTwo list: Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka.
This not only emphasizes Saliba’s individual rise but also showcases the talent Arteta has assembled within his squad.
Though Arsenal fans have cause for celebration with Saliba’s higher ranking, Liverpool maintains an edge overall, boasting four players in the top 100.
Among them, Mohamed Salah stands out as the highest-ranked Premier League player, coming in just behind Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and Rodri.
The debate over the superiority of each club’s defensive lynchpin—Saliba for Arsenal and van Dijk for Liverpool—is likely to continue.
Liverpool fans, in particular, will defend van Dijk’s legacy, as he remains one of the finest defenders of his generation.
However, at just 22 years old, Saliba is quickly establishing himself as one of the top defensive talents in the game.
His current form has many suggesting he could soon be considered among the best in the world, pushing past van Dijk, who, despite his illustrious career, is now facing criticism over his recent performances.
For Saliba, the task ahead will be to maintain this high level of play throughout the season, as his contributions will be critical to Arsenal’s ambitions of winning silverware.
Should he continue on this trajectory, his place among the sport’s elite will be cemented, and his reputation as a top-tier defender will only grow stronger.
As the Premier League season unfolds, it will be interesting to see if Saliba can continue to elevate his game, particularly in such a competitive environment where he will be compared to established stars like van Dijk.
