Benjamin Arthur has identified two members of the Celtic squad as key figures he admires and seeks to learn from…
The defender has made an impression during his loan spell from Brentford, despite criticism among supporters that he wouldn’t play many minutes between now and the summer.
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Operating at centre-back, Arthur has appeared assured alongside the experienced Liam Scales, and during a recent Q&A, he highlighted two senior teammates as major influences on his development.
Celtic have provided the 21-year-old with valuable exposure to high-pressure fixtures, including involvement in the Glasgow derby.
He credited the presence of seasoned professionals around him, singling out captain Callum McGregor and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as the players he most looks up to.
Speaking via Celtic TV, Arthur said: “I’d probably say Cal or Ox. I think they both had very great careers and as people as well, they’re really approachable and, you know, very humble people I think.”
With more than 1,000 senior appearances between them, McGregor and Oxlade-Chamberlain offer a wealth of experience compared to Arthur’s 13 professional appearances, placing them in an ideal position to help the young defender handle the demands of life at Celtic.
Martin O’Neill believes Arthur has the potential to reach the Premier League in the near future, and his performances so far suggest that prediction may not be far off.
Dundee boss Steven Pressley – who worked with Arthur at Brentford – believes he has already drawn comparisons to Virgil van Dijk in the formative stages of his career and, on current evidence, the Englishman looks well-equipped to make the step up to Premier League football.
Arthur and his Celtic teammates are preparing at Lennoxtown ahead of Sunday’s crucial Premiership encounter against Dundee United at Tannadice. Given that Auston Trusty is available for selection, it will be fascinating to see if the Hoops loanee keeps his place in the starting XI.
Conor Spence
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