Martin Keown has said on talkSPORT that Rob Holding deserves a chance at Arsenal.
The Arsenal legend made the comment while giving his take on the futures of central defenders David Luiz and Shkodran Mustafi.
Keown has suggested that the Gunners should let Luiz and Mustafi leave the club this summer, but believes that Holding deserves another chance due to his injury problems.
Keown said on talkSPORT: “Holding’s been injured, it’s hard to judge him, probably deserves another opportunity. I think that Sokratis could be a useful defender but I can understand the uncertainty of giving David Luiz a new deal.
“Do they now start to be harsh and make those key decisions? If David Luiz isn’t the answer, then he has to go now.
“He doesn’t enjoy being in wide positions in the back four, he tends to bring people down and Mustafi, although Arteta has got a bit of a tune out of him but we know Mustafi isn’t quite at the level as well.
“You go to a football club, you have to make your mark and if it doesn’t happen you have to hold your hands up. I think both players will have to do that… I can’t see that being a long-term partnership in the Arsenal defence.”
Stats
Holding has been on the books of Arsenal since 2016, but the 24-year-old central defender has had injury issues and has not been a regular in the first team.
According to WhoScored, the Englishman has made one start and one substitute appearance in the Premier League, and played 270 minutes in the Europa League for Arsenal so far this season.
During the 2018-19 campaign, the centre-back made nine starts and one substitute appearance in the league, and played five times in the Europa League for the Gunners, according to WhoScored.
Arsenal stay
According to Transfermarkt.co.uk, Holding is under contract at Arsenal until the summer of 2023, and it would make sense for the Gunners to give him another season to see what he can do.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
