Arsenal: Potential 2017/18 starting XI without Mesut Ozil or Alexis Sanchez

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 07: Rob Holding of Arsenal and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain of Arsenal celebrate after the Premier League match between Arsenal and Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium on May 7, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 07: Rob Holding of Arsenal and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain of Arsenal celebrate after the Premier League match between Arsenal and Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium on May 7, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) /
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Arsenal, Rob Holding
(Photo by Nils Petter Nilsson/Ombrello/Getty Images) /

Rob Holding

Another typical Wenger signing, Rob Holding‘s rapid rise to the Arsenal starting eleven has been nothing short of a fairy tale. Purchased for a measly £2.5m from then Championship bottom-dwellers Bolton Wanderers, he seized his opportunity after the recent injury to Shkodran Mustafi and Gabriel’s inconsistent form.

Whilst there certainly have been some shaky moments, growing pains are expected with young players, but the only way that they will grow is by playing. When analysing the situation, Holding couldn’t be in a much better place; both Mustafi and Koscielny are incredibly well-respected and experienced defenders and the presence of Petr Cech must be comforting.

Comfortable on the ball, and already showing the ability to be in the right place at the right time, Holding seems to have a bright future, it would be wrong to hinder his development and remove him from the Arsenal XI. Were he to struggle, Calum Chambers and Nacho Monreal could step in, and I would be comfortable with both doing so.