Arsenal beat Nottingham Forest 5-0 on Tuesday night.
Arsenal boss Unai Emery has told Four Four Two that he thought it was ‘perfect’ for Rob Holding to make his return against Nottingham Forest.
The Gunners hosted Forest on Tuesday night, searching for a big result after an unconvincing display against Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon.
It was only 1-0 at the break against Forest as Gabriel Martinelli headed home the opener, but Emery saw his side run riot in the second half.
Holding headed home the second, before Joe Willock and Reiss Nelson got on the scoresheet, and Martinell curled home a stunning fifth to wrap up a comfortable win.
Martinelli will have grabbed the headlines with his brace, but the return of centre back Holding is a major boost for the Gunners given their defensive issues.
Holding has been out for more than nine months with a knee injury, and the £2million signing from Bolton in 2016 (BBC) has now made his first-team comeback.
The 24-year-old has now been praised by Emery, who suggested that it was ‘perfect’ for Holding to play so well after featuring in the Under-23’s, and noting that Holding helps Arsenal play more like a team whenever he is in training, which is huge praise for the Englishman.
“Every day in training he helps us to have more performances like a team. He needed to take minutes, take confidence,” said Emery. “And I think tonight – the first match after playing with the under-23s – is perfect. He was a little tired at the end of the match but he scored and he’s happy tonight and we’re happy for him,” he added.
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