Arsenal vs Norwich City: 5 key players in homecoming fixture

4. Rob Holding

I have a very flimsy confidence in our defense. As in, I really want to believe they’re strong, but I can’t quite get myself to commit. Maybe that’s because I’ve been burned so much in the past. Maybe that’s because I know Shkodran Mustafi, and I know David Luiz and Sead Kolasinac and I know their downfalls. I don’t know. But as much as I want to have confidence, I’m skeptical.

Rob Holding can change that. It won’t happen all at once, but it can change in time. Holding has been really, really good since coming back. Aside from his bizarre, failed header that lead to Sheffield’s goal, he’s been our best centerback, which is saying something because Mustafi has been quite good too.

But Holding doesn’t have a track record of collapses. So if he can keep up this string of positive results, that flimsy confidence can start to get more and more solifidied.

Until then, I will try to move most of my defensive confidence to Holding, since I know he is least likely to let me down. And that, for lack of a better reason, is why I have him as our key man in this one. I need so invest hope in some centerback.

Next stop No. 3.