Rob Holding has been a constant presence at the Emirates, having been with the club for nearly a decade, witnessing the tenure of the past three managers.
During his time at Arsenal, the English defender had the privilege of playing alongside renowned talents such as Santi Cazorla, Alexis Sanchez, and Mesut Ozil, to name a few. These individuals were among the standout performers for Arsenal in the past decade, and Holding had the opportunity to share the dressing room with them.
Among these remarkable players, one individual left an indelible mark on Holding’s memory: Mesut Ozil. The German playmaker’s sheer magic in matches and on the training ground made a lasting impression on Holding. In fact, Holding recently recounted a particular training session where Ozil’s skills were so mesmerising that it left him awestruck. This experience further strengthened Holding’s belief that Arsenal had the potential to compete for and win the league title.
Ozil’s exceptional abilities and the impact he had on his teammates, including Holding, highlight the profound influence he had during his time at Arsenal.
Holding told the Jaxxon Podcast, as quoted by Mirror Football:
“I remember a session, when [Henrikh] Mkhitaryan had just signed. We did a possession-based drill and those two were on the same team. They just completely ran it around us, just passing to each other, barely using anyone else. It was frightening.
“I thought we were going to win the league. I thought with these guys we’re just going to rip it up now and it’s going to be incredible. His [Ozil’s] football intelligence is just so high.”
Just Arsenal Opinion
Ozil was one of the finest talents we signed under Arsene Wenger and the German showed his class when he was at the peak of his career.
However, after he signed his last big-money contract at the club, his performance level dropped significantly, which could be a function of his age.
But we will always keep the memories we shared very close as he gave us some very good moments.
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All my sons has a Jersey with Ozil name printed on the back, this speaks volumes of influence the Germans international wheels
Want to wish him well.
That’s the power of being a “shirt selling genius” Gunsmoke and I think Saka, Martinelli and Saliba will all compete for that accolade as time goes on.
True word Ken 👍🏻👍🏻
Holding has said it all.
He was there and witnessed the unquestionable talent, the motivational skills, the pure joy of playing with the man and how important he was to the squad.
Unai Emery and Mikel Arteta couldn’t handle that exceptional talent and failed to capitalise on it.
In the end, the relationship became so toxic, MA did the only thing left open to him and let him leave the club for nothing.
I’m absolutely certain that MA would handle things differently today as would MO, and it seems both men bear no grudge against the other.
That’s how I see the situation and I know others see it completely differently – welcome to Just Arsenal!
However, it’s certainly interesting to hear from the horse’s mouth, so to speak, rather than ill informed biased opinions, mine included!!!
So “The Shirt Selling Genius” could mostly show his talent hidden away at the Training ground? Reminds me of those skilled “FUTSAL” players. They look so good in a particular setting.
But when the real test came about, when all those training ground skills were needed to be converted into actual performances on the field on those Saturdays / Sundays / Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Mondays, Thursdays or Fridays etc then The Shirt Selling Genius would turn to Jelly, Casper the Ghost, or a Magician specialising in “The disappearance Act” etc.. 😊🤭
He used to do that slick “Sleight of Hand” where he mesmerised his fellow teammates, The managers, The cleaners, The directors, The physiotherapists, The dinner lady, the grounds maintenance man and Gunnersaurus etc at the training ground, but then would completely switch to “The Disappearing Magician” on the field when it mattered.
Has any one seen Ozil? 😊
ABRACADABRA, Poof 💨.
Needless to say , I think this article as wrong as any article I have ever read.
To laud a lazy self centred shirker who happened to have lots of natural talent but not the character to do much with it IN OUR SHIRT , is to my mind laughably wrong.
Instead, I consider this foolishly praised player to be the single most club DAMAGING player we have had in my long Arsenal supporting life and I began supporting us in1958.
My clearest memories of Ozil are not his occasional moments of brilliance, it’s the way he so frequently surrendered possession of the ball at the slightest challenge, and was largely silent in important games. No heart, not really. He was clearly very talented, but still far from the most talented I’ve seen play for arsenal. In any case, talent without motivation isn’t really all that valuable, aside from maybe impressing your teammates in training, apparently.
Is Ozil really relevant to our present? I cannot think of another Arsenal player who has continued to be so divisive between the supporters. The fact that Holding has happy memories is great for him. I’m really not fussed. I have my memories of watching Bergkamp, Henry and Liam Brady instead of than glorifying a man who thought it was ok to offer to pay the mascot as part of his stance against the club.
As I said, Welcome to Just Arsenal 😂😅😅😅😅😅😅
Lovely to see such positive thoughts eh Gunsmoke?!?!
Funny how the players recognised his talents, both on and off the field, as did MA up until the virus epidemic, and so many fans spent their hard earned money getting his name on their shirts…. to the extent he became the 5th highest “shirt selling genius” in the world.
A vote of thanks to our own Rob Holding (along with Saka and ESR) who have remembered what he gave to them and the club – as I said, straight from the horse’s mouth with no bias or preconceived ideas, just plain honest truth…. and now we move on to the next generation.
I wonder if Saka, Martinelli or Saliba will take over the mantle of “shirt selling genius” and fans like Gunsmoke and his children will spend a fortune again?
Enjoy your retirement Mesut.