‘IT’S A KEY MOMENT FOR US... THE WORLD WILL BE WATCHING!’
UNAI EMERY reckons his Arsenal defence will have the ‘Wow!’ factor not the ‘Ow!’ factor now Rob Holding is back — whether he is in tomorrow’s starting line-up or not.
Holding missed the last six months of last season after a cruciate ligament injury in the 2-2 draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford in December.
It was a massive blow for Emery given that the partnership he and Sokratis Papastathopoulos were beginning to form was an impressive one.
The 24-year-old returned to training in August and was finally deemed fit enough for a start in the Carabao Cup clash with Nottingham Forest on Tuesday, in which he scored.
Emery still has to decide whether or not Holding is match- fit enough for Premier League action and tomorrow’s trip to Old Trafford may be too soon.
But, either way, the Arsenal boss is overjoyed that the player is back in contention and, whatever his decision, he wants Holding to play his part in the dressing room.
Emery said: “After eight or nine months out, it’s a long time, and to recover he needs first to take it bit by bit, to take confidence, to get back to the performance levels we demand.
“On Tuesday, I thought, ‘ Wow! He’s coming, Rob Holding’.
“I don’t know if he is going to start at Old Trafford, but I want from him his spirit, his behaviour and commitment. “He really feels Arsenal Football Club and I want players like him in the dressing room.
“Last year, Rob started training and playing with us and he progressed a lot.
“When he had his injury at Old Trafford, it was maybe at the best moment in his progress.” Emery still has time to decide which back four or five to select, with new £25million signing Kieran Tierney also ready for his first Premier League start after recovering from injury.
Whichever personnel he chooses, they will be tasked with ending a 13-year wait for a top-flight victory at Old Trafford.
Incredibly, you have to rewind all the way back to September 2006 to find the last time the Gunners took maximum points off Manchester United on the road.
The Gunners are on a mini roll, having won three on the bounce in all competitions. United, on the other hand, are creaking, badly.
Emery added: “Our challenge is to be competitive in each match, and to improve and to achieve the best performance and the best result in a key moment.
“Tomorrow, a key moment is coming. “We really want to play matches where we can do something important and we are preparing well.
“The players are all hoping to play the next match.
“We know it’s a very big opportunity for us to get three points, but above all it is to enjoy each moment training to prepare for this match.
“I am excited waiting for this moment. But also I know we need to prepare a perfect match because the three points are very important for both.
“Each match when I watched in Spain – Arsenal versus Manchester United, Manchester United versus Arsenal – was a special moment.
“And tomorrow at 8pm, in all the world, if someone wants to watch a football match, it’s this one.
“I’m looking forward to seeing our response. It’s amazing to play in Manchester with that atmosphere.
“My experience with Arsenal last year in Old Trafford was we drew 2-2.
“I had more experience there as well with Sevilla and Valencia.
“For all coaches, all players, to play in a stadium like Old Trafford is amazing.”