Sky Sports via The Metro is claiming that Arsenal has decided not to let Rob Holding leave them again this summer.
The Englishman had been expected to leave the Emirates this summer for a loan spell at Newcastle United as competition for a place became even more fierce at the Emirates.
Arsenal has added at least three new defenders from the January transfer window as Pablo Mari has now been joined by Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba, who returns from his loan spell at Saint Etienne.
The Gunners now have a large roster of centre backs to choose from and some of them will be allowed to leave.
Holding is highly-rated at the Emirates, but the Gunners had wanted him to join the Magpies so that he can get enough playing time this season.
He has been one of the better defenders at the club and he is probably being rewarded for his fine performances under Mikel Arteta.
Other defenders at Arsenal who might become available to leave because of this decision including Shkodran Mustafi, Calum Chambers, Sokratis Papastathopoulous and Sead Kolasinac.
Sokratis has already become a target for Napoli (Goal), while Kolasinac is wanted back in Germany by his former club, Schalke 04 (The Sun).
Not what some ITKs are saying…
Rob Holding’s loan to #NUFC not completely dead as some are reporting.
With Sokratis set to leave this week, injuries to Mustafi, Mari and Chambers, and Gabriel unlikely to be selected immediately despite his quarantine now being finished, Arteta may need Holding vs Fulham. #AFC
I 100 percent trust Holding to fight and take us to a knew level just like he did in the first season .Luiz will have few minutes to play this season while other defenders are new to premier so this leaves as with only iron Holding to push us to the top
Makes no sense to let centre backs leave while we have 3 injured and 2 new youngsters that will need to adapt. May be just sokratis now and if we can get Mari fit by October 6th then may be cash in on mustafi.
I fully expect sokratis, torreira, kolasinac and guendozi to leave the club
Holding is certainly a good defender and he showed last season by his performances. Hope Mari recovers soon, we need as many players fit as possible because the season is long and rigourous. I feel Socrates, Kola and MUstafi will leave although I sould still MA give MG another chance. Also Chambers should be kept for his versatility.
if I may as who is MG?
Guendouzi
Yeah. Not a bad decision, if authentic
Yeah. Not a bad decision, if authentic.
I also support that we should keep Holding and not because we have some injuries but because I believe that he is ready to fight for the role and we should not forget that Luiz is old and he can not play all matches. So the only player I will select to take Luiz position is Holding as he is tall and always ready for the challenge in premier league.
David Luiz is 33, that’s barely hitting twilight years for a defender. His age is not a problem for his position, and if we stick to a back 3, he will be playing the majority of matches. Also, Holding is not a replacement for Luiz. Holding is not nearly skilled enough to play central of a back 3. He’s being kept to play RCB.
YET ANOTHER GREAT EXAMPLE OF OUR NEW MANAGER BEING A PRAGMATIST. IF ONLY Wenger had been one during his last decade we would be so nearer the very top teams now , having never fell so vety far behind.
My view has been for at least fifty years of my long adulthood that without a proper and fit defence with proper backup, no club can hope to seriously compete for titles. Even Man City found this out, to their cost, last season. QED!
AT LONG LAST, WE HAVE A MANAGER/COACH who fully understands and practises this vital truth. Halllujah!
MG refers to Mateo Guendouzi.
He may still be loaned out in late October but it’s understandable why this decision would be delayed. We have Saliba who isn’t EPL experienced, and Gabriel who has been quaranting, and a bunch of injured defenders, and well, Sokratis. So we dont have many choices at the moment. If Mustafi recovers soon we should move Holding on for a loan and hopefully a purchase next window.