3 things that went wrong for Arsenal against Southampton

2. Rob Holding identified as a weakness

When Holding first came into the side, it was spectacular. The team maintained their high quality and continued to churn out results. However, the absence of William Saliba has been felt more as the days roll on.

Holding, unfortunately, causes three issues. The first is that he gets too tight to his man. When a striker drops deep into the midfield to help progress the opponent’s attack, Holding often sticks a foot in and gets caught out of position.

Second, the Englishman struggles to play the ball quickly out of the back and severely slows down Arsenal’s speed of play. Undoubtedly, the defender has a level of quality and can certainly play a long ball often into the path of Arteta’s electrifying wingers. Still, teams are comfortable when Holding is making decisions. An event that happens far too often.

Third, although Holding may not be directly responsible for every goal Arsenal have conceded over the last few weeks, he adds a structural weakness to the team. When Gabriel is partnered with Saliba, it makes it easier for Zinchenko to play his offensive, puppeteering, midfield role. The pace of Wilo, along with Gabriel, ensures that Arsenal is rarely caught out. With Holding in the back line, Arsenal are continuously punished for Zinchenko’s positioning, and Gabriel is forced to do two to three jobs. Take care of his own man, Zinchenko’s and help Holding.

The centre-back needs Gooners’ support but must also raise his standard back to when he was first reintroduced to the starting 11.

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