Our View: Edu has just made a really smart decision at Arsenal

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Arsenal confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that they had signed Rob Holding up to a new deal.

The 25-year-old has been an ever-present figure in the Gunners’ defence this season, starting 13 of the club’s 17 Premier League games under Mikel Arteta.

Holding didn’t seem to have much future at Arsenal last summer when he was being linked with moves to Newcastle United.

But he has looked a different animal since then and really, signing him to a new deal is a very wise decision by Edu.

The landscape at the Emirates is going to change in a big way with regards to their centre-back options over the next six months.

Shkodran Mustafi, David Luiz and Sokratis Papastathopolus won’t be at Arsenal for the start of next season, while William Saliba has just been loaned out and the same might well apply to him.

When you consider the fact that Pablo Mari and Calum Chambers are both recently back from long-term injuries, and the fact that Gabriel has been in England for five months, Holding is far and away Arteta’s most important central defender.

And this extension is not only likely to make the player a lot happier and rewarded for his form, but it safeguards Arsenal against losing him, too.

The Gunners need to start building for the future as far as centre-back options go. Signing Omar Rekik last week was a big step by Edu, but so too is rewarding Holding and making him a centrepiece in this transition can only be a good thing for everybody concerned.