Rob Holding has impressed Arsenal coaches in training with his intensity, as the defender seeks to force his way back into manager Mikel Arteta’s plans, according to The Athletic.
The centre-half has dropped down Arteta’s pecking order since Benjamin White’s £50m arrival from Brighton and Hove Albion in the summer.
White has struck a strong partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes at the Emirates Stadium this term. The pair have kept five clean sheets in nine games, winning six and losing just once.
Arteta’s preference for White and Gabriel starting has seen Holding’s status revert to third-choice at Arsenal. He has only featured twice in the Premier League so far this season, and has not appeared on the pitch since defeats to Chelsea and Manchester City in August.
The 26-year-old has instead made 256 of his 436-minutes so far this term in the Carabao Cup. He has opened all three of the Gunners’ ties and captained the side at home to Leeds.
Holding is determined to force his way back into Arteta’s Premier League side, and has also impressed some Arsenal coaches with his intensity in training at London Colney this term.
He had cut a key presence at the Emirates last term, with no centre-half playing more often than Holding. The former England U21 enforcer enjoyed 2,557-minutes of Premier League action. Only goalkeeper Bernd Leno (3,132) and winger Bukayo Saka (2,561) played more.
In comparison, Gabriel (1,996) played the next-most minutes among their centre-backs. While David Luiz (1,396), Pablo Mari (900) and Shkodran Mustafi (43) also featured.
Will Holding regain key role at Arsenal under Arteta?
The Athletic note Holding would likely be the next man up if Arteta has to dip into Arsenal’s back-up centre-backs. So, he likely needs Gabriel or White to miss a game or two to return.
Holding did not give Arteta much reason to keep him in his Premier League plans following Arsenal’s defeats to Chelsea and Manchester City. Games in which both White and Gabriel were absent. The former had tested positive for Covid and the latter battled a knee injury.
Manchester City were able to drift off Holding to hurt Arsenal, while Chelsea targeted Mari. Yet Holding showed what he can offer in the Carabao Cup, to suggest he can turn a corner.
Holding paired well with White as they struck a comfortable pairing against Leeds. He also carried the ball with confidence, and will surely be the first man in Arteta’s thoughts if White or Gabriel are missing again, if he keeps impressing coaches with his intensity in training.
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