Arsenal: 3 players immediately effected by Pablo Mari signing

2. Rob Holding

This is a disappointing situation for Rob Holding. Because when you look at the defense pre-Pablo Mari, we had four guys. Usually four is a good number for centerback, because you get your primary pairing, and your secondary pairing. There’s the possibility of interchange and it’s all pretty happy.

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Of course, the scare of injuries or suspensions makes five the perfect number, but as of right now, I can’t help but think that it’s Holding that becomes the fifth. At least for now. Because believe it or not, Holding has been the lest effective centerback of our four.

His big benefit is that he’s young and he’s proven himself before. Returning from a lengthy injury lay-off is always going to be problematic and Holding is currently still fighting through that.

But even still, the opportunities that might have fallen to Holding will likely be rerouted to Mari, as Mari has to have his long-term fate decided by the end of the year. We have to know if we want to make this move permanent or not.

We already weren’t seeing much of Holding, but I fear we will see him even less now. All for the greater good, though, right?

Lastly, No. 1