Arsenal have confirmed that Rob Holding has penned a new long-term contract at the Emirates.
The 22-year-old defender has made 24 appearances this season, adding to the 18 he made in his debut season after signing from Bolton Wanderers for £2 million in the summer of 2016. He’s also an FA Cup winner…at the expense of Diego Costa.
Ahead of a summer when Arsenal will lose Per Mertesacker to retirement, it’s good news that we’ve pinned down another of our defenders, especially one with under-21 caps to his name and the potential to keep improving.
In addition to Holding, fellow centre-back Calum Chambers signed a new deal back in October, while the renewals by midfield duo Mohamed Elneny and Mesut Ozil further underscore the work being done behind the scenes to keep the first team squad intact.
Youngsters Joe Willock, Matt Macey, Eddie Nketiah and Ben Sheaf have also put pen-to-paper since November and Reiss Nelson is expected to do the same soon.
that’s great news, top man holding
Yeah, Holding seems like a decent lad, and a great prospect. Always love that story I think Chambers explained on SoccerAM – where apparently Rob Holding watched some Arsenal FanTV video on Twitter after a game in the back of the bus on the way back home, in which that guy called Troopz kept calling Rambo a ‘ham roll.’ Then for weeks after, at every training session, whenever Holding was defending/playing against Ramsey. Every time Aaron would go to place a pass, or to shoot, to purposefully put him off, Rob would shout at him ‘you ham roll,’ right when… Read more »
Is that true?? 🙂
Yeah – I saw it on SoccerAM or it could have been on the Arsenal Player.
I keep forgetting how young he is (it’s also bizarre to me that Xhaka’s only 25), 22 is baby years for a centre-back. Looking forward to see how he develops long-term – we’ve got some bright CB prospects between him, Chambers and Mavropanos.
I’m a big fan of Holding, seems like a really sensible young lad who is developing well, if a little slowly. Love that he has a bit of fight in him as well, not taking any crap from Costa or anyone else!
This is good news and I am happy that any development into a top level CB will be done at The Arsenal.
Rob Holding you know.. he is better than Cannavaro! ?
I loved the way he played last season. His form has sort of gone down this season. Can happen to any young player. I really do want Holding and Chambers to develop and become our long term centre back pairing. Could be the best thing to happen for us.
The way the whole team has defended, it’s no surprise that his form has dipped.
And Mav, of course
Over the moon with this news. He really could develop into a great defender for us.
I remember back in 94 i was really happy when Steve morrow signed a new deal…… I was young.
??
With Kos probable diminishing role next season due to his injury and age, this is a good news. I hope Holding and Chambers can be our next future centre back pair.
And Dinos Mavropanos is also excitinf to watch.
We’ve got three very promising central defenders 23 and under, and this could prepare us along with the right established signing for a period of defensive stability (recognizing, of course, that good defending takes all 11 players) we haven’t seen in a while. Good work by Wenger and co. to bring these players in and to show faith in their development, and fingers crossed the next crew can deliver them forward.
Defenders these days don’t come cheap and not all expensive defenders play great. David Luiz, Mangala, Mustafi(still not writing him off though.) to name a few that pop up in my head. Considering all these factors.. as you have rightly said.. we have done a great job by bringing in three really good young defenders. I would say we should be bold enough and give all three of them a run of matches in the main team. Our back line isn’t entirely great..so it cannot go anymore wrong. Maybe let Mavropanos settle in first.. but I do strongly believe that… Read more »
Great news! I hope he gets the game time he needs and develops into a great player for us!
Great news. Still think both him and Chambers could do well for us with some proper coaching.
This is the key point. We currently don’t appear to ‘do’ defensive coaching. So it’s over to the new guy….Whomsoever he may be…..
I would be interested to see how Holding will develop under the new manager – where he is actually coached on defending…..
Very interesting…
The extra cash is going to make it pretty uncomfortable for Diego Costa in his pocket
I think we will sell Bellerin this summer. We have 4 young CB’s – Rob, Dinos, Mustafi and Calum(all around 24) One experienced CB – Kos (He will step down soon but unlikely next year) We are looking to bring one more CB in. Surely, they must be planning Maitland-Niles at RB with Chambers as back-up RB. I think we’ll sell Bellerin and use that money to fund new signings.Plus we’ll get at least 5 million for Lucas Perez. 2 scenarios for Bellerin- 1. Swap with Barca for Dembele 2. Sell him to Madrid or Juventus for 35-50 million. Bottomline:… Read more »
Ease off the FIFA nighters mate
Why on earth would we sell one of our best defenders. He had a bad patch but now has come back to form. Maitland Nile’s and Chambers are not comfortable at full back and unless they consider Osei Tutu as ready an understudy for him is needed
Because that is what we do.
That would be downright silly.
If we sell him for 35-50 mil we’d either pay that or more for anything comparable, or 35 mil and growing x2 or x3 over the course of bellerin’s career. We’d lose not only a quality RB and a home grown Gooner, but financially in a very large way as well.
Rob Holding you knooooooow
Excellent news, hasn’t had much luck this season but is still a hugely promising player.
I still think he would benefit, as Chambers did, from a season on loan at a mid-table/bottom-half PL club. Whoever the new manager is, Rob isn’t likely to see the kind of minutes next season that he needs to keep developing – any new manager is going to be a bit risk-averse at first, especially with his centre-halves.
Mavropanos the new Holding. Honestly we have potential with Cbacks but we need to manage their growth and at least detriment to the team’s performance. Both these players are potential but need space to grow without undue pressure. We will do our chances huge favour if we scout in a more experienced player to pair up with Mustafi in the next 2 seasons. Koscielny as good as he has been is getting on and should either take a retiring role (ala Per) or be sold if the price is good. Meanwhile someone like De Vrij or Koulabaly (again if affordable)… Read more »
Socrates for a couple of years to mentor them.
You have everything all worked out as always.
I’ve also got under 21 caps
I hope one of Chambers and Holding would be able to force Mustafi up his form OR usurp him altogether. He’s been very frustating this season seems not to be focused on his own game. Good thing we also have Mavropanos now, we should not afraid to offload Mustafi in summer transfer if things keep going this way.
If could find like-to-like replacement, that’s better, but I really hope our young defenders make their marks on first team on merit.
The bowler’s Willey is Holding the batsman.
Is it?
Or words to that effect.
I think it’s possible that we send Rob on loan next season. We have kos, mustafi, chambers, mav and probably a new signing. That’s five CB’s. So to tie Holding down and give him first team games every week somewhere else for next season, sounds like a good idea.
You think the new Coach will want to keep Mustafi, Xhaka & co after the last 2 seasons of mediocrity? unless they can drastically improve. Plus 2 new goalkeepers needed.
Hope he keeps improving and actually plays.
Good news on Holding but I think Mavropanos is Arsenal’s saviour. He makes Adams look ordinary and reminds me of a young Franz Beckenbauer with a hint of Bobby Moore. I just hope the fans don’t put too much pressure on the lad.
Not put him under pressure? Like comparing him to Adams, Beckenbauer and Moore? No pressure there then…
Whoosh
Don’t see why holding would not replace calamity Mustafi against Athletico. The boy is a finished product who needs more games to be packaged. He rarely makes mistakes, doesn’ make short passes in the 18, and guards the balls well. I can’t say these things of Chambers, he is not improving. Wenger’s continued play of Mustafi, when he has a viable option in Holding sums up Arsene’s woeful management in the last decade.