Friday, March 29, 2024

Arteta backs Holding after post-ACL injury struggles

Mikel Arteta has spoken highly of Rob Holding, insisting the centre-half is a valuable member of the squad, after his recent struggles with injury.

The 24 year old suffered a cruciate ligament rupture at Old Trafford in December 2018, and although he made his first team comeback in September, another more minor knee problem saw him miss a further two months.

He played the FA Cup third round against Leeds, and looked rusty on the night, but the Arsenal boss is sure that once he regains full fitness he’ll pushing the more established centre-halves for place in the side.

“He is a very interesting player, very focused, very determined, very willing to learn,” said Arteta of Holding.

“Obviously the fact he has been out for such a long time, he is lacking competition now and lacking that rhythm. We need to try to give him as much as possible to help him.

“There were some moments that he looked really, really good. He is a player that is going to be very valuable for us.”

The Gunners defensive depth has been tested with the injuries to Holding, and latterly to Calum Chambers who suffered the same ACL rupture as his great friend.

The club have moved to address that, and it’s expected that the signing of Spaniard Pablo Mari from Flamengo will be made official inside the next 24 hours.

Tonight’s FA Cup clash with Bournemouth may well provide a chance for Holding to find some fitness again, and work his way back into form.
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Would you play Rob Holding in the FA Cup game tonight?x

Read today’s Arseblog: FA CUP PREVIEW: FINDING THE BALANCE BETWEEN STRENGTH AND ROTATION

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Draculana del Rey

Holding out for a hero

RSAGooner
Feedback on post content Tonight's FA Cup clash with Bournemouth may well provide a chance for Holding to find some fitness again, and work…" Read more »

Yes

PeteyB
Feedback on post content Tonight's FA Cup clash with Bournemouth may well provide a chance for Holding to find some fitness again, and work…" Read more »

yarp

Dave M

Holding was finding some really solid form then ACL. Chambers was finding some really solid form then ACL…dam!

carl

Holding is our best defender by a country mile !! He will partner Salib next season and what a pairing !!

Berlingoon
Feedback on post content Tonight's FA Cup clash with Bournemouth may well provide a chance for Holding to find some fitness again, and work…" Read more »

sure

Quentinelli

That little floating icon makes it tempting for one to comment

Mandela Kiran

I hope this is the team for tonight
Martinez, AMN, Holding, Mustafi, Saka, Guendouzi, Willock, Ceballos, Ozil, Nketiah, Lacazette

ashish mann
Feedback on post content Tonight's FA Cup clash with Bournemouth may well provide a chance for Holding to find some fitness again, and work…" Read more »

Oh yes. If i was qualified to be darth vader. I’m not. Makes me realise im not qualified to be a Pl manager and so is nobody on this site. Nonetheless good “fan engagement” feature from blogs.

Ricochet

This is a test comment. Hope the site keeps Holding on.

Jude

Is it just me or Arteta seems to strike the perfect note in every press conference, since taking over at The Emirates? “within this one, a long future I see”

A Different George

I agree. And, although every manager is supposed to say positive things about his players and most usually do unless they have lost the team (Mourinho), I hear something more than the usual manager-speak from Arteta. Maybe I’m just hearing what I want, but for me he has all the makings of a great man-manager.

Chris
Feedback on post content Tonight's FA Cup clash with Bournemouth may well provide a chance for Holding to find some fitness again, and work…" Read more »

Yes

Dave Swain

Holding has a huge future, if we keep him fit I think he’ll be playing for the national side. Seems to be a leader not afraid to be vocal…

Rohan

The new UI looks crisp and amazingly done. One small issue I noticed was the margins on the left for the names and the comments. This is on Android. The text looks like it’s tightly hugging the left edge of the screen. Maybe something like a margin of 16dp might solve it?

Highbury

Same “issue” on mine (android).

Grymelock

Ooh er, so it does. Looks nice though, very “reddit-y”

Bai Blagoi

Rob has every chance to become our leading Central Defender in the future. Hopefully all the injuries are behind him already!

allezkev

It’s so refreshing, everything Mikel says is positive and makes sense, it’s a pleasure listening to his post match interviews and pressers.

Ólafur

Hey just adding a comment on the new design, loving it but finding the text a bit light in colour, a little hard to read, but might just be my monitor.

Rising Dough
Feedback on post content Tonight's FA Cup clash with Bournemouth may well provide a chance for Holding to find some fitness again, and work…" Read more »

‘another more minor knee problem saw him miss a further two months.’
Yes, a two month knee injury is ‘more’ minor than an ACL injury. But most people would never associate ‘minor’ with either. Are we back to the old days of incompetent rehab treatments?

EagerBeaver

Er… Blogs doing everything to make sure Arteta isn’t too far ahead on plaudits? ? Nevertheless, great efforts! Long may the innovations continue!

Dingo Machinebob

come on holdini

Santori

There was no issue with his fitness.

I think he was showing too much ‘ring rust’ against Leeds which is why the preference was for Mustafi.

Simple.

BUT long term, we need to play Holding.

HoldenontoArsenal

On a general note, I believe we all realize that EPL football has and is experiencing many changes. These changes effect all of us fans but do we really understand how and why? I am not linking here as I do not know if that is allowed. I will tell you where to find an article that really seemed to explain some of what we are experiencing. The article in on Goal, written by Alex Kebel and titled Arteta, Morinho and Lampard Need Excruciating Patience in this New Age of the Super Club. Blogs, I hope it is ok to… Read more »

Gabridinho

Hi Arseblog! Hi Gooners! Hi Holding! (in case he drops by) (test comment)

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