William Saliba believes only one thing is stopping him from being better than Virgil van Dijk as the world’s best defender

William Saliba believes he is edging ever closer to becoming the best centre-back in world football.

William Saliba, 23, has experienced a remarkable rise with Arsenal over the past two seasons, making a significant impact for the team. Mikel Arteta’s squad narrowly missed out on the Premier League title last season, finishing just two points behind Manchester City.

Saliba has developed a strong partnership with Gabriel in Arsenal’s defense, and few central defenders in the world can match his current form, with Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk being a notable exception.

In a recent interview with Fox Sports Mexico, Saliba expressed confidence in his performance, stating, “I’m on the right track, especially last season. I’m on my way to becoming the best defender in the world.” He emphasized the importance of winning titles, saying, “I think I’m one of the best at the moment, but to claim that, I need to win some trophies. That’s what I’m missing right now.”

Since returning to Arsenal in the summer of 2022 after a successful loan at Marseille, Saliba has secured his spot in Arteta’s starting lineup and has quickly become a favorite among Gunners fans.

Arsenal will face Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City this weekend in what is expected to be one of the biggest Premier League matches of the season. Saliba acknowledged that the team’s focus remains unchanged as they aim to compete effectively.

“Of course, we want to compete against Manchester City as we have in the past two seasons, but we know we need to do more,” he said. “While we aim to challenge City, we also need to perform well against other teams. Winning against City is important, but if we don’t secure points elsewhere, it won’t mean much. We are determined to win this weekend and will give everything, but it’s not the end on Sunday.”