%20rotate(-8.06)%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22336.19%20136.81%20330.16%2094.25%20326.06%2071.19%20326.44%2071.13%20335.22%2093.54%20352.29%20134.52%20373.95%20131.46%20362.7%2052.01%20350.02%2053.8%20356.05%2096.36%20360.15%20119.42%20359.77%20119.48%20350.99%2097.08%20333.91%2056.09%20312.25%2059.15%20323.51%20138.6%20336.19%20136.81%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22402.91%2059.3%20412.36%20126.02%20427.17%20123.92%20417.72%2057.21%20431.59%2055.24%20429.79%2042.51%20387.23%2048.53%20389.04%2061.27%20402.91%2059.3%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22463.51%20118.77%20458.69%2084.71%20474.68%2082.44%20479.51%20116.5%20494.36%20114.4%20483.11%2034.95%20468.26%2037.06%20472.96%2070.25%20456.96%2072.52%20452.26%2039.32%20437.4%2041.43%20448.65%20120.88%20463.51%20118.77%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22540.5%20107.87%20538.77%2095.68%20518.91%2098.49%20515.77%2076.29%20535.63%2073.47%20533.93%2061.5%20514.07%2064.32%20511.11%2043.42%20530.98%2040.61%20529.25%2028.42%20494.53%2033.34%20505.78%20112.78%20540.5%20107.87%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22299.03%20155.17%20301.29%20171.58%20542.78%20138.39%20540.5%20121.97%20299.03%20155.17%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
Arsenal: Rob Holding Could Be Unintentional Savior
Arsenal’s Per Mertesacker has recently suffered a knee injury which will likely see him miss 5 months of playing time. Recent acquisition Rob Holding could well be the unintentional savior that Arsenal are in so desperate need of.
Injuries, while often seem to point to the worst case scenario in the heat of the moment, often provide opportunities for younger players to be promoted into the first team and test themselves at a higher level. It has happened repeatedly at Arsenal and could well be set to happen once more.
Related Story: Per Mertesacker Injury Has To Push The Issue
More from Pain in the Arsenal
- 3 observations from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
- 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
- 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
- Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
- 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
In recent times, Alex Iwobi, Joel Campbell and Francis Coquelin have all staked their claim to more regular playing time based on their performances in a few matches in which they only started due to injuries to players ahead of them in the squad pecking order. Such forced progression of youngsters is set to happen once again, and Arsenal have the injury of Per Mertesacker to thank.
The big German is set for five months out with a knee injury that he suffered in Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with RC Lens of Friday night. Playing in a position that is already thin on the ground, investment will be needed this summer. However, there is one player who could be thrust into a rather rushed first team debut this August, and he could well be the unintentional savior that Arsenal are looking forward for in light of Mertesacker’s injury.
Rob Holding was signed only this week in a £2 million deal from Bolton. There is very little chance that either he or Arsene Wenger anticipated such an immediate push into the spotlight. However, with Mertesacker’s injury, Laurent Koscielny likely to miss the start of the season after being given an extended time off and very little options beyond in the squad already, Holding could well be set for a rather important debut against Liverpool.
It will likely be between Holding and Chambers to play alongside Gabriel Paulista on that opening day, and both will be in for a tough time against a fluid and dangerous Jurgen Klopp driven attack.
Next: Left Field Right Wing Solutions
Without any investment this summer – please say that this injury forces Wenger to buy someone before the start of the season – Holding could well be the starting center half for the Gunners. Let’s just hope he can hold his own with the big boys.