HOLDING WINS ON THAI BREAK

IT was the biggest summer of his life and yet Rob Holding was on the most unlikely holiday for a Premier League footballer.

While his big move to Arsenal was negotiated last year, Holding was backpacking round Thailand with five mates from school, staying in £5-a-night hostels.

It is the sort of attitude which has kept Holding’s feet firmly on the ground after his remarkable rise from Bolton to FA Cup winner with Arsenal. The 21-year-old (left, with Alexis Sanchez) said: “Me and my mates from school – we’d always wanted to do it and that was our big chance.”

Holding, signed for around £2.5million, is proof there are still bargains in the lower divisions.

“Look at Jamie Vardy, there are players out there,” he said.

“If you’re lucky enough to be brought through then you have to realise the job is not done there.”

His debut was a baptism of fire the 4-3 defeat by Liverpool on the opening day of last season.

“It was like ‘Welcome to the Premier League’!” he said.

Holding was speaking at the Call of Duty: World War II BETA. Visit www.callofduty.com/beta