Rob Holding deserves credit at Arsenal as William Saliba looks for way out

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Arsenal defender Rob Holding is a player who many Gunners fans didn’t think they’d see this season, let alone end up praising for his excellent performances.

Holding looked to be on his way in the summer. Newcastle United reportedly came close to landing Holding, before Mikel Arteta pulled the plug on the deal at the last minute.

Most Gunners fans would have said in the summer that the return of William Saliba from Saint Etienne would have sealed Holding’s fate.

But with the Frenchman struggling to break into the first-team and now seemingly wanting out again, should we be lauding the turnaround from the 25-year-old former Bolton defender?

It certainly looks that way. Holding has started four of the Gunners’ seven Premier League games this season, winning three and keeping two clean sheets. Coincidentally, the defender missed two games for Arsenal at City and home to Leicester. Arteta’s men lost both.

Credit where it’s due

As mentioned, few would have expected the big defender to succeed as he has this term. Never known to the casual fan as a ball-playing defender that Arteta craves in his back three, his potential move to Newcastle made sense.

But the turnaround has been remarkable. He was sensational at Old Trafford last weekend. Alongside new signing Gabriel, Holding looked assured and calm against a pacey United attack.

Sometimes in football you simply have to take your hat off to someone. Holding has turned things right round in north London and while not ideal in terms of Saliba, from the point of view of Rob Holding, him wanting out is the icing on the cake.

Arsenal fans, then, will be hoping the 25-year-old’s form continues as is deep into the Premier League season.