Holding is proving his worth to Gunners: Emery
UNAI Emery believes Rob Holding has vindicated the club’s decision to keep him at Arsenal this season.
The defender has started 11 of the last 13 games in all competitions and has developed into a key figure in Emery’s first six months in charge at the Emirates Stadium.
Holding admitted recently that he was “disappointed” to miss out on the last England squad and is still targeting a debut senior cap.
The 23-year old stayed put following Emery’s arrival, while fellow centre-back Calum Chambers joined Fulham on loan.
Coupled with injuries to Laurent Koscielny and Konstantinos Mavropanos, Holding has seized his chance and appears to have impressed Emery along the way.
“We decided he would stay here, and when he had chances, he played well and he helped us with big performances,” the Gunners head coach said of Hold- ing ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Bournemouth. “Every match is another test for Rob to do that. He is improving, he is getting confidence and with confidence he is at his best.”
Holding’s place may come under threat in the next few weeks as Mavropanos and Koscielny return from their respective injuries.
Club captain Koscielny is stepping up his return from an Achilles injury he suffered in the Europa League semi-final defeat to Atletico Madrid in May.
Emery has not ruled out slowly introducing Koscielny back into action, starting with Monday’s Under-23 fixture against Derby.
“He must start playing, little by little,” he said. “Our idea is to start with the Under-23s, but he has been training with us for these two weeks. I am looking at him. He is well.”