'Be more streetwise': Sky Sports pundit slams Arsenal star ahead of Newcastle and defends Arteta
Sky Sports pundit, Tim Sherwood, has criticised Arsenal defender Rob Holding for his red card against Tottenham the other night.
Spurs saw off the Gunners with ease in the end, after Holding was sent off in the first half, essentially leaving the door open for Tottenham to see the game out with ease. It was a big moment in the game and one of a number of decisions that Gunners boss Mikel Arteta bemoaned after the game.
Holding’s red has had plenty of scrutiny since it happened. Pundits and fans alike have had their say, and former Spurs boss Sherwood was on Sky Sports today discussing it as well. And Sherwood believes Holding let his manager down.
“If you look, the ball was over the top, the ball was going out of play anyway he doesn’t even have to make it. He’s giving his team an uphill task there. You can’t say it’s down to the manager,” Sherwood said.
“Mikel Arteta is not telling him to go and do that. He might be telling him to get tight, But he needs to be clever, he needs to be more streetwise. I think the atmosphere took over his mind there and he’s not thinking clearly when he’s making decisions like that, elbowing him when they’re 1-0 down.”
Holding’s red, coupled with Gabriel Magalhaes limping out of the game, has left Arsenal with a defensive crisis ahead of facing Newcastle tomorrow night now.
TBR’s View: Rob Holding Lost His Head With Red Card, Sherwood Is Right Here
There is no doubting that Rob Holding completely lost the plot the other night. Why he went about his business like he did was bizarre and it could be costly for Arsenal now.
Not only in the game against Spurs, but now they have to face Newcastle with a lack of defensive players on the books.
Sherwood is right here. Holding needed to be smarter, and his actions could be massive come next week.
