Celtic's New Recruit: A Virgil van Dijk Clone?
Celtic fans are buzzing with excitement as the club has secured the services of young defender Benjamin Arthur, who has been likened to the legendary Virgil van Dijk. The 6ft 4in centre-back, who joined Celtic on loan from Brentford, has already impressed those who know him well, including his former coach, Steven Pressley.
Pressley, who worked closely with Arthur at Brentford, believes the player has the potential to be a star. He describes Arthur as a 'huge unit but also very mobile', with 'calm and clean' defending skills, and attributes that are similar to those of Virgil van Dijk. The Dundee head coach adds, 'He is right-sided, very assured, quick, strong, and powerful, with all the good attributes that top modern-day defenders require.'
But how did Celtic come to acquire Arthur? Well, it turns out that Pressley himself gave them the inside track. He spoke to Shaun Maloney, his former Scotland and Celtic teammate, who is now a first-team coach at Celtic. Maloney, impressed by Arthur's potential, made the call to bring him to the club.
Arthur's arrival at Celtic is seen as a strategic move, especially with Cameron Carter-Vickers expected to be out for the season. The young defender will compete with Auston Trusty, Liam Scales, and Dane Murray, and his presence allows Stephen Welsh to return to Motherwell on loan for the second half of the season. Despite the competition, Pressley is confident that Arthur can shine at Celtic, given the opportunity.
The former Coventry boss reveals that Arthur had several options, including top English Championship sides, but Celtic's appeal was strong. Pressley believes that a move to Celtic will be a significant step in Arthur's development, providing him with an experience that money can't buy. He says, 'I think if you can handle the pressures of playing for Celtic or Rangers, you can handle most clubs.'
Arthur's journey to Celtic began when Brentford signed him from Peterborough for a seven-figure deal three years ago. Pressley, who worked closely with Arthur at Brentford, sees him as a future first-team player with the potential to star in the English Premier League. This loan move to Celtic is considered the next step in that journey, with Arthur hoping to make a similar impact as his teammate, Tony Yogane, at Dundee.
As Arthur prepares for his Celtic debut against Dundee in the Scottish Cup, Pressley and his team are focused on the entire Celtic squad, including their deadline-day signings. The Taysiders, desperate to end their long Scottish Cup wait, will be a formidable challenge for Celtic, but Pressley is confident that Arthur and his teammates will rise to the occasion.
