D
Dan Owen
Guest
Wednesday night’s long-awaited – or long-dreaded, depending on your point of view – Premier League clash between Arsenal and Manchester City might not be merely a make-or-break moment in the Gunners’ hopes of re-claiming a trophy they haven’t got their mitts upon for 20 years.
It also has a distinctly make-or-break, sink-or-swim flavour for one member of Mikel Arteta’s squad in particular.
With all due respect to Rob Holding, his continued presence in the Arsenal squad is threatening to bring about unwelcome flashbacks to the time when things weren’t quite so rosy in the Emirates garden.
Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
The 27-year-old would probably be a starter at many Premier League clubs. A Wolves, a West Ham, a Nottingham Forest, a Leeds United. But not a side with genuine title ambitions.
His deficiencies were clear for all to see once again during Friday’s traumatic 3-3 draw with bottom of the table Southampton; the colossal presence of the injured William Saliba hanging over him as Holding switched off in the build up to the Saints’ third goal.
“Rob Holding, I am not a big fan of him, to be honest,” Gunners legend Emmanuel Petit tells Premier League Productions. “I think he is too soft, as a defender.
“It’s such as shame also to see (Takehiro) Tomiyasu injured. I would have preferred to have played with Ben White as a central defender.”
“Saliba has been the player Arsenal have been without,” adds Martin Keown.
Keown knows a thing or two about what is required of a title-winning centre-half.
“You can say it’s not all about one player, but I think this guy doesn’t get anywhere near enough credit; his pace, his power, his aggression. The stature he has,” he adds.
“He has not been available. And while has not been in the team, it has been more difficult. Balls into the channel, the team playing deeper…”
“A big miss.”
For even the most optimistic Arsenal supporter, the prospect of Holding going head to head with Erling Haaland – a Premier League title on the line – is a recipe for insomnia. A repeat of Friday’s defensive disasterclass against Southampton, meanwhile, and the calls for Arsenal to bring a high-quality replacement will only grow.
Arsenal, during the January window, focused mainly on bringing in players capable of raising the floor of a hitherto paper-thin squad. Jorginho, Leandro Trossard and Jakub Kiwior, while not guaranteed starters, lessen the drop-off between the first XI and the second string.
Reports from Croatia suggesting Arsenal have now made contact with Dinamo Zagreb about bringing Croatia international Josip Sutalo to the Emirates Stadium can be viewed in a similar light. 23-year-old Sutalo, according to one former Dinamo coach, is a centre-half of ‘world-class’ potential.
To others, it is only a matter of time before he is partnering Josko Gvardiol at the heart of the Croatian national team. Dinamo want around £18 million. Arsenal showed when signing Kiwior and Trossard for big sums that they are willing to stump up for players capable of strengthening – not so much the starting XI – but the squad as a whole.
A right-footed central defender, Sutalo would be to Saliba what Kiwior is to the left-footed Gabriel. It’s now up to Holding – in Saliba’s continued absence – to show that Sutalo isn’t required.
Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images
The post Arsenal man fighting for future as Arteta eyes 'world-class' £18m replacement - Our view appeared first on HITC.
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It also has a distinctly make-or-break, sink-or-swim flavour for one member of Mikel Arteta’s squad in particular.
With all due respect to Rob Holding, his continued presence in the Arsenal squad is threatening to bring about unwelcome flashbacks to the time when things weren’t quite so rosy in the Emirates garden.
Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
The 27-year-old would probably be a starter at many Premier League clubs. A Wolves, a West Ham, a Nottingham Forest, a Leeds United. But not a side with genuine title ambitions.
His deficiencies were clear for all to see once again during Friday’s traumatic 3-3 draw with bottom of the table Southampton; the colossal presence of the injured William Saliba hanging over him as Holding switched off in the build up to the Saints’ third goal.
Arsenal may be about to replace Rob Holding
“Rob Holding, I am not a big fan of him, to be honest,” Gunners legend Emmanuel Petit tells Premier League Productions. “I think he is too soft, as a defender.
“It’s such as shame also to see (Takehiro) Tomiyasu injured. I would have preferred to have played with Ben White as a central defender.”
“Saliba has been the player Arsenal have been without,” adds Martin Keown.
Keown knows a thing or two about what is required of a title-winning centre-half.
“You can say it’s not all about one player, but I think this guy doesn’t get anywhere near enough credit; his pace, his power, his aggression. The stature he has,” he adds.
“He has not been available. And while has not been in the team, it has been more difficult. Balls into the channel, the team playing deeper…”
“A big miss.”
For even the most optimistic Arsenal supporter, the prospect of Holding going head to head with Erling Haaland – a Premier League title on the line – is a recipe for insomnia. A repeat of Friday’s defensive disasterclass against Southampton, meanwhile, and the calls for Arsenal to bring a high-quality replacement will only grow.
Josip Sutalo a summer target
Arsenal, during the January window, focused mainly on bringing in players capable of raising the floor of a hitherto paper-thin squad. Jorginho, Leandro Trossard and Jakub Kiwior, while not guaranteed starters, lessen the drop-off between the first XI and the second string.
Reports from Croatia suggesting Arsenal have now made contact with Dinamo Zagreb about bringing Croatia international Josip Sutalo to the Emirates Stadium can be viewed in a similar light. 23-year-old Sutalo, according to one former Dinamo coach, is a centre-half of ‘world-class’ potential.
To others, it is only a matter of time before he is partnering Josko Gvardiol at the heart of the Croatian national team. Dinamo want around £18 million. Arsenal showed when signing Kiwior and Trossard for big sums that they are willing to stump up for players capable of strengthening – not so much the starting XI – but the squad as a whole.
A right-footed central defender, Sutalo would be to Saliba what Kiwior is to the left-footed Gabriel. It’s now up to Holding – in Saliba’s continued absence – to show that Sutalo isn’t required.
Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images
The post Arsenal man fighting for future as Arteta eyes 'world-class' £18m replacement - Our view appeared first on HITC.
Continue reading...