Tired of constant calls to invest in his squad, Arsene Wenger sarcastically apologised that Rob Holding did not cost Arsenal £55million. "Nobody is speaking about the performance of Rob Holding today. You should be happy; he is English, he is 20 years old, but I'm sorry he didn't cost £55m, so it cannot be good,” the exasperated Frenchman said after a 0-0 Premier League away draw against Leicester City in 2016.
Almost six years later, Holding will take to the field this weekend donned head-to-toe in white; not as part of a Tottenham Hotspur side, but as part of a Gunners team wearing a special all-white kit to promote their magnificent “No More Red” campaign, which tackles knife crime and youth violence.
Just like the many youngsters Mikel Arteta’s side are hoping to inspire, Holding Arsenal through and through and not carrying the burden of a £55m price tag.
Defenders have proven to be a very difficult purchase for the Gunners since Wenger’s departure, but Mikel Arteta seems to have struck the perfect balance with Ben White and Gabriel Magalhaes.
Unfortunately, two moments of rashness in the 2-1 home loss to Manchester City saw the latter dismissed for two bookable offences.
Arsene Wenger defender Rob Holding, after critics badgered him to invest in a defender (Image: GETTY)
Now Holding must step up to the plate and prove Gabriel’s absence is nothing to worry about.
And Arteta has plenty to worry about, as disaster struck during the Brazilian’s last prolonged absence from the starting eleven.
Gabriel was nursing a knee injury when Arsenal lost their first three Premier League matches against Brentford, Chelsea, and Manchester City, conceding nine goals in the process.
Arsenal’s campaign jump-started when the 23-year-old was reinstated into the starting eleven, going on to keep five clean sheets in an impressive eight-match unbeaten run.
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Holding will almost certainly be deployed in the Gunners’ FA Cup clash against Nottingham Forest.
Considering their recent form and their obvious status as a Premier League side, Arsenal will be the overwhelming favourites at the City Ground.
However, the hosts are enjoying an impressive run of three wins and a draw in their last three matches and will be roared on by the vociferous support of around 28,000 fans. Nothing less than his best will be required to overcome Steve Cooper’s side
Holding could very well be contention to start Arsenal’s League Cup semi-final against Liverpool, and providing there are no injuries, he will almost certainly be deployed in the north London derby at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium.
Antonio Conte is playing a very fine tune out of this Tottenham side, tightening up the defence and finding Harry Kane’s goalscoring boots.
A fit and firing Kane is one of the hardest challenges any central defender faces in world football, but it is the perfect opportunity to make a statement.
Arteta has signed White, William Saliba, Gabriel, Pablo Mari, and David Luiz since he replaced Unai Emery. Many more have been sold or loaned by the Spaniard yet Holding has managed to cling to a place in Arteta’s match-day squads.
Arsenal are desperately trying to find a willing buyer in Europe to take Mari off their hands, and will likely take to the transfer window to fill his void.
If Arteta and Edu decide to replace the Spaniard in the current or next transfer window, then Holding has to keep himself within Arsenal contention.
The all-white kit may very well be his against Forest, but if he is to be given the nod to face Liverpool and Tottenham, he must ensure the traditional red and white shirt is his, and not that off a potential new arrival.
