The ex-Bolton youngster Rob Holding made his debut for Arsenal last night against the MLS All-Stars, and he has been universally praised by everyone who saw the game, despite his tender years and his unbelievably low transfer fee.
His arrival at the Emirates was perfectly timed as our BFG Per Mertesacker was immediately ruled out by injury and is not expected to play until Xmas. Arsene Wenger straight away tried to set all our minds at rest by declaring that he was definitely in the market to get an “experienced” replacement.
But last night perhaps changed his mind after watching Holding outshine even Calum Chambers who has been with us for the last three seasons. Wenger said about Holding after the game: “He has adapted surprisingly in a very good way. He reads the game well and understands what’s going on. He anticipates well and that’s a quality, at such a young age, that you don’t find a lot.”
Although Wenger says that Holding is young, he will actually be 21 in September, and is older than when Hector Bellerin first became a regular in the Gunners starting line-up. If Wenger brings in yet another “experienced centre-back” then Holding will be used very infrequently this season, with Koscielny, Gabriel, and maybe Chambers and Bielik ahead of him in the pecking order and his development may be stalled.
Should Wenger forget about buying and promote Holding immediately?
Admin