Tottenham told they have their own Virgil van Dijk as Arsenal point made

Amie Wilson

9 April 2024 at 9:00 am·2-min read

Micky van de Ven celebrates after the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. -Credit:Marc Atkins/Getty Images

Premier League pundit Jamie Redknapp has predicted that Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven can emulate international teammate and Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk - if he stays injury-free.

The 22-year-old scored just his second Premier League goal on Sunday as Spurs came out as 3-1 winners over relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. He has impressed with his performances since joining from Wolfsburg in the summer.

Van de Ven has suffered some injury problems this season, missing a total of 10 Premier League games with hamstring injuries. But he has played the full 90 minutes of the last two league matches.

Such have been his performances when fit, Redknapp has drawn comparisons with both Arsenal’s William Saliba and Liverpool’s Van Dijk. The pundit has predicted a big future for Van de Ven.

“Arsenal fans will look at [William] Saliba, who is a great young defender as well, but I think this guy is equally as good,” he told Sky Sports after the win over Forest. “He’s got everything going for him.

“You could see the difference when Spurs lost him when he had his hamstring injuries. I think if he stays injury-free, there is no reason he can’t almost emulate what Virgil van Dijk has done.

“Virgil was a similar age and Virgil wasn’t producing the performances he is right now, he’s only going to get better. As long as he doesn’t get too many injuries along the way because that can affect, with the hamstrings, the speed that he’s got, but he’s a top player he really is.”

Spurs and Van de Ven will be back in action in Saturday’s early kick-off when they travel to take on Newcastle United at St James’ Park. A win would move Ange Postecoglou's men three points clear of Aston Villa in fifth ahead of their match against Arsenal on Sunday.

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