ADAMS II Holding’s the next Tony
RAY’S YER GAME: Ray Parlour says Holding can be a star Feb 2018: Spurs 1 Arsenal 0 Nov 2017: Arsenal 2 Spurs 0 Apr 2017: Spurs 2 Arsenal 0 Nov 2016: Arsenal 1 Spurs 1 Mar 2016: Spurs 2 Arsenal 2
Arsenal – 76 wins Spurs – 57 wins Draws – 49
RAY PARLOUR has hailed Rob Holding’s Second Coming at Arsenal – and likened his mental toughness to that of a young Tony Adams.
The Gunners central defender, 23, enjoyed a fabulous first year at The Emirates after his shock signing from Bolton, playing in and winning the 2017 FA Cup Final.
Last season proved very different when he fell out of favour while Arsene Wenger’s long reign as manager ended.
Now, Holding is a first-team regular again under new boss Unai Emery and, according to Parlour, that proves the ex-England Under-21s star has the resilience and character to survive and thrive at elite level.
In a huge accolade to Holding, the ex-Gunners midfielder claims these are the same gritty ingredients that enabled Adams (above right) – who is regarded by many as the club’s greatest centre-half – to make his breakthrough at Highbury in the early 80s. Ahead of today’s North London derby, two-time Double winner Parlour said: “Rob’s had his ups and downs. It’s a bit of a rollercoaster when you’re a young footballer. “Everyone makes mistakes when they first get in the team. Look at Tony Adams. When he was a young lad he made a lot of them.
“The key is not to worry about that. You just keep working and learning from your mistakes. That’s what Tony did and it’s what Rob’s doing.
“He’s still young, he’s still learning the game and he’s getting better the more he matures. I’m really pleased because he’s had to be patient and wait for his chance.
“You have to take it when it comes – and Rob is.
“At the start of the season, the manager didn’t seem too sure who to have in the centre of defence. But Rob has made his position his own during the team’s recent good run. Long may it continue.”
One Arsenal star who has experienced the exact opposite since Emery succeeded Wenger is Aaron Ramsey.
The Wales playmaker, who will be a free agent in June, has been left kicking his heels on the bench for the much of the North Londoners’ ongoing 18-game unbeaten streak in all competitions.
Yet if sympathetic with Ramsey’s situation – the playmaker has not started in the Premier League since September – Parlour (below) as a diehard Gunner, is thrilled because it underlines the squad’s depth. The ex-England midfielder, an integral part of Wenger’s Invincibles in 2003-04, said: “I feel for Aaron. But it’s great for Arsenal to have such a strong bench.”
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