Unai Emery says Rob Holding is taking confidence from increased game time and that the 23-year-old is now an important member of the first team squad.
The centre-back said this week that with 12 consecutive games under his belt he’s playing the best football of his career and that he’s hopeful of being selected for England by Gareth Southgate in the near future.
Quite why Rob would want to leave the comfort of London Colney to play Interlull football with Harry ‘walking head’ Maguire and Eric ‘I’m’ Dier is beyond us, but there we go…the man has a dream.
Reflecting on Holding’s progress, Emery revealed that he saw potential as soon as he took charge of pre-season training.
“I think in the pre-season, every player had chances to show us how they can play and little by little, with his work every day, I think Rob Holding is improving, he is taking confidence and with confidence, he is his best player,” he told his pre-Bournemouth press conference.
“He is helping us like we want, but I say it with every player, we want every player to be okay, to be with good spirit in training, because his chances are coming in the matches and now, Koscielny also, is working with us every day and he is close to play in the next matches.
“Sokratis is working better every day also, I think his adaptation is better now than in the first two months. We need every player and Rob Holding for us is also very important with his spirit, with his commitment with us and with every player.”
Holding revealed that he thought long and hard about requesting a loan move in the summer when he found out that Arsene Wenger, who’d just handed him a new contract, was leaving. In the end, the player decided he’d rather give life under Emery a shot and it’s so far paid dividends.
It also sounds as though Holding’s decision matched Emery’s thinking.
“In the pre-season we also had Mavropanos – but he is injured now – we had also Chambers and we decided to let him go on loan to Fulham and we decided that Rob Holding stayed here,” said the Spaniard.
“But in the pre-season, every decision was looking at the matches with the players and finding the best performance in this moment.
“I think Rob Holding, we decided for him to stay here and when he had chances, he played well and he helped us with big performances. Every match is a test, another test for Rob to do that.”
My English keeps worsens every time I read Unai’s interview
Pot,kettle,black etc.
Case in point??. Some people just don’t like jokes. So sensitive ?
Yeah sadly I didn’t see the huge sign saying “this is a joke”. my bad.
What’s your Spanish like?
Basil Fawlty:
I’m so sorry. He’s from Barcelona.
Still fairly young.would be great if he can make one of the CB position his own this season.If so,that would be a big help next summer as we have other areas that need major surgeries.(Mustafi replacement.LB,RW and Potentially a young ST)
I’d be more interested to hear Emery’s thoughts on Chambers. It’s clear Holding is impressing him at the moment
Huge potential, intelligent, good feet, competitive. Can be a mainstay once he matures.
Looking forward to seeing him progress.
At this rate, Holding is certainly holding down a place in CB in the immediate future.
I love how he Robs strikers of the ball.
what a steal for £2 mil. honestly, what can you get for that these days?
eric “im” dier. haha, gold jerry!
“And it’s Dier for Tottenham”
Rob is a great Holding centre half. Long may it continue.
never had any doubt over holding
Great steal by Wenger.
Has an unflappable quality about him.
As Emery mentioned we need all options at CBack.