Per Mertesacker says he’s been impressed with Rob Holding’s desire to learn from his mistakes and admits it has been important for the 22-year-old to go back to basics in recent weeks.
The England under-21 international ended last season on a high with a fine performance alongside Mertesacker in the FA Cup final against Chelsea but struggled at the start of the new campaign with Arsene Wenger admitting he rested the player after a drop in confidence following the 4-3 win over Leicester.
Reflecting on Holding’s recent upturn in form, the BFG pointed to the difficulties faced by many young professionals in their second season at a big club.
“I think he learns a lot,” Mertesacker told Arsenal Player. “He’s consistently learning, he wants to learn and is trying to make things happen for himself.
“I think he’s coming right back. In your second year, that’s the normal struggle you go through. Sometimes it’s hard to explain because he just wants to keep going. It doesn’t always go like that.
“I’m quite happy with his recent form because he’s stepped up again and tried to prioritise. Sometimes you have to make sure you win your duels and play the simple pass, instead of playing that final ball. Sometimes you need to know what you do as a defender, play without mistakes at the start and even when you get more confidence, you can play those balls.
“He understands what it means to be a professional footballer. You have those dips and those situations where you know it’s going to be difficult, but just move on from them. He’s done that quite well.
“He wants to take responsibility and in moments of frustration it’s hard to come back from them, but he understands that it’s a journey and that’s what I like about him.”
Great student, great teacher.
He should be out on loan in the championship picking up 40+ games.
We’re an injury away from playing the sort of back line that destroys young players confidence.
And who would we play with Kos and Mus out? Do you really think Elneny or Maitland Niles would fare better?
Holding already 1-2 full seasons with Bolton so he’s at the right place at the right time to step up his game
Optimism at its finest I see.
And who do you reckon should play at the back? Arsene? Or do you want Bouldy to fill in till Mustafi returns?
If he is in the same situation on loan it wouldn’t destroy his confidence?
Good to see Rob holding his own
Nothing to be pleased about. Granted the young man has great potential but too many here trump him up for no apparent reason. IMO Chambers needs a look in. ALSO completely mystifying why we let a maturing and improving Gabriel leave before Holding can establish himself as the real deal at no cost to us enroute. This was the same issue when Wenger developed Walcott and Ramsey. They had stuttering performances at cost to the team and the league on the way to their best seasons for us. The conumdrum is if you don’t play them o f course, they… Read more »