Kevin Campbell says a new contract for Arsenal defender William Saliba has been ‘virtually agreed’, as he called for ‘better protection’ for Rob Holding.
Prior to the international break, Rob Holding started Arsenal’s comfortable win over Crystal Palace, with William Saliba on the sidelines with an injury.
Well, with Premier League football set to return again at the weekend after the international break, it seems as though Mikel Arteta’s star centre-back might still be out of action.
If that’s the case, then Holding will be called up again, with relegation-threatened Leeds United visiting the Emirates Stadium hoping to cause an upset.
Last season, that nightmare moment for Holding in the north London derby is still in the minds of fans.
But, if the Englishman does keep his place in the XI, then this is his chance to prove his worth and how much he has improved, with Campbell calling for his protection and dropping an exciting claim about Saliba’s future, as he told the Highbury Squad.
“We put so much pressure on the likes of a Rob Holding coming in, he’s not Saliba!” said Campbell. “So, what we have to do a little bit better, we have to protect Rob Holding a little bit.
“I think last season we couldn’t protect him because we were all over the place. We were depleted, but we aren’t as depleted now.
“Let’s just say that Saliba isn’t right. We want him to be right. Rumour has it, the contract is virtually agreed – I think were are equipped (compared to last to perform without Saliba).”
SALIBA COOKING UNDER MIKEL ARTETA
The 22-year-old wasn’t thrown straight into the deep end by Mikel Arteta when the Arsenal boss was in the early stages of his managerial career.
Even though the team was struggling, especially in defence, Arteta shut off calls to play the ball-playing defender.
But, fast forward to the present, that patience with the France international has proven to be a stroke of genius because he is now seriously cooking under Arteta.
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