Benjamin Arthur has picked two Celtic teammates that he considers to be players that he looks up to.
Arthur has impressed in his loan spell from Brentford, despite claims from Frank McAvennie that the defender wouldn’t play a minute for the Hoops.
The centre-back has looked comfortable alongside the more experienced Liam Scales and in the latest Q and A session, he namechecked two other senior professionals as people he would consider to be inspiring.
Benjamin Arthur says Callum McGregor and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have inspired him
Celtic have handed Arthur his first big occasions in professional football, including an appearance in the Glasgow derby.
Having wiser heads around him has helped, with the 21-year-old naming captain Callum McGregor and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as the duo he looks up to the most.
He told Celtic TV: “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.”
McGregor and Oxlade-Chamberlain have made over 1,000 career appearances combined whereas Arthur has 13 to his name, meaning that the other two are perfect teachers to guide the youngster through the pressure of playing for Celtic.
Benjamin Arthur is on track to fulfil Martin O’Neill prophecy
While McAvennie dismissed Arthur before he even kicked a ball, Martin O’Neill had different ideas.
O’Neill thinks Arthur will play in the Premier League before too long and early indicators suggest that it could happen.
He has already received comparisons to Virgil van Dijk in the early days of his career and based on what we have seen so far, looks more than capable of having a future south of the border.
Whether he goes on to play for the likes of Liverpool is another thing, but the Bhoys will look back in the future with a sense of pride knowing that they played a role in his development.
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