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Bold Mikel Arteta summer decision has proven a masterstroke and it cost Arsenal nothing – TBR View

Giuseppe Labellarte

Tue 3 November 2020 18:45, UK

Arsenal defender Rob Holding looked likely to leave the Gunners in the summer, but manager Mikel Arteta made it clear he wanted his player to remain at the Emirates Stadium.

The 25-year-old had been heavily linked with a move to Newcastle United, who were looking for reinforcements at the back, while Arsenal were reportedly looking to move some centre-backs on.

However, Holding started the opening game of the season at Fulham and impressed in a 3-0 win to leave Arteta ruling out a departure for the defender.

“I said to him ‘change your mind because you’re not going anywhere’,” Arteta told reporters, as quoted by .

“Rob is another who stands for every value we want at the football club. He had a really difficult time but he trained and why would I have to let him go? He’s already playing, what more do you want?”

Holding suffered an ACL injury during Arsenal’s 2-2 draw away at Manchester United in December 2018 and was out for the best part of a year, subsequently struggling for form and minutes on his return.

His future at the Emirates looked uncertain over the summer, but Arteta kept faith in him and the decision is reaping dividends, the Englishman returning swiftly from a hamstring injury to shine in Sunday’s 1-0 win at Manchester United.

Despite having to deal with an in-form Marcus Rashford and earning a booking early on which meant he was walking a tightrope, he put in a great performance laden with great tackles, dominance in the air, and composure on the ball.

As with the decision to keep Mohamed Elneny, Arteta’s call to retain Holding’s services and put faith in a player whose stock had fallen, and the player in turn putting in great displays, looks to have been another masterstroke which cost the club nothing.