Garth Crooks believes Rob Holding could earn permanent first-team berth at Arsenal

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Arsenal defender Rob Holding has been named in BBC Sport pundit Garth Crooks’ Premier League team of the week after his excellent display against Liverpool this week. 

The Gunners beat the champions 2-1 and Holding put in an immense shift against Senegalese star Sadio Mane. 

The Liverpool forward could not get the better of Holding throughout the game and Crooks seems to believe it could be the start of a run of first-team action for the 24-year-old. 

“At first I thought Mane had the better of Holding but as the game wore on it was clear that the Arsenal defender was determined to come out on top and, in the end, he did. Mane was Liverpool’s biggest threat on the night and all credit to Holding as he never shirked his responsibility even after the Liverpool striker put his side 1-0 up only a few minutes into the game.”

“Holding has had his fair share of injuries this season but with a run of games he might find himself a permanent feature in the Arsenal defensive line-up.”

It is easy to forget that Holding was pushing for an England call-up before his injury problems started but he showcased some of his better qualities for Mikel Arteta’s side this week. 

It was only his sixth Premier League appearance of the season and there has been plenty of speculation regarding his future at the club. 

It was rumoured recently that Arsenal could consider offers for the player this summer as Arteta looks to put his stamp on the Arsenal team. 

Indeed, as previously reported by The Sun, then Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger considered sending him on loan to Burnley with a view to a permanent £15 million deal in the summer of 2018. 

That fee proved too much for Burnley and Holding stuck around, found form, then suffered his horror knee injury. 

But it was performances like this that first had him catching the eye and Arsenal fans will be hoping he can continue to perform at this level.