According to a report from the Mirror, Unai Emery is willing to reward a young defender with a new deal despite his long-term injury. The 23-year-old Englishman has not seen the pitch since last December due to a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Who is Rob Holding?
Rob Holding started his senior club career at Bolton Wanderers. He won Bolton’s player of the year award for the 2015/16 season. From there on, it was just a matter of time for Arsenal to find his talent and employ his services ahead of other leading top-flight contenders. Soon after the Emirates welcomed him in 2016 and he went on to score his first goal for Arsenal against BATE Borisov in Europa League.
Patience is the key for any youngster. You cannot expect to be in the starting lineup instantly, especially if you are at a top club like Arsenal. Holding understood this quite well and waited on the bench for his call without any complaints for almost an entire season.
The youngster got his much-awaited chance to make an impact following injuries to centre-backs Per Mertesacker and Gabriel Paulista. Holding utilised the opportunity and subsequently became a regular starter for the Gunners.
Rob Holding’s Calling
On 4 May 2018, Laurent Koscielny had a severe injury during the clash between Arsenal and Atletico Madrid. His Achilles tendon got ruptured which caused him to miss out on about 21 games for the Gunners.
Emery brought Sokratis Papastathopoulos as a sudden cure for the defence and alongside him, Holding stepped up for his team in the absence of his captain. He made a stellar partnership with Sokratis and Shkodran Mustafi at the back in a back three thus providing his worth to his new manager as well.
According to the report, Arsenal under Unai Emery are all set to reward the progress and determination displayed by the young Englishman even through his road to recovery and they intend to reflect his standing in the team on his contract as well.
The Gunners didn’t lose a single match with the 23-year-old defender on the pitch. He was very crucial on their 22-match unbeaten streak. Hence it makes complete sense for the club to tie down a young future prospect with a contract as early as possible before attracting interests from elite clubs.
New Terms at Emirates?
Despite the fact that Arsenal had already extended terms with Rob Holding as early as back in May last year tying him to the Emirates till 2023, Arsenal are all set to offer revised terms in a bid to justify his contribution to the team and this will surely provide a much-needed boost to the youngster’s rehabilitation which is set to keep him out until September this year.
The departure of Aaron Ramsey and exclusion of Mesut Ozil from the team on a consistent basis puts the future of the club and its ambitions on a dicey path.
However going by the recent work done behind the scenes, it’s understandable how Emery wants a group of young people with will power and teamwork to function together; not to build a one-man team centred around star players in order to simply justify their salaries.
The new Holding deal is just a beginning for major things to come in future at Emirates and we can only wait in anticipation.
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