Arsenal defender Rob Holding has put pen to paper on a new and improved deal with the Gunners to extend his stay at the Emirates Stadium. According to recent reports, the English centre-back has signed a long-term contract extension with the North London side ahead of the summer transfer period. It is believed that Arsenal decided to retain his services for the long-run after Holding put in a number of impressive performances since his move from Bolton Wanderers in the summer of 2016.
The 22-year-old was already under contract until the summer of 2020 and the North London side have now decided to offer him a new deal, which will extend his time at the club. The Gunners were reluctant to reveal the length of the extension but they released a statement which claimed that they “look forward to his continued contribution in the coming years.”
Holding has struggled to break into the Arsenal first-team this season and is currently the fourth choice at centre-back. He has only managed to feature in 20 matches for the Gunners this term and has registered one goal to his name in all competitions. However, with Holding penning a new deal at the club, it could indicate that Arsenal rates him highly and might plan to use him more frequently in the coming years.
Wenger’s side looks set to clinch a top 6 finish in the Premier League and currently have a tally of 57 points after playing 36 league matches. The Gunners will need to strengthen their squad during the upcoming summer transfer period if they are serious about closing the gap between themselves and their top 4 rivals next season.
Arsene Wenger’s club cannot afford to lose a player of Holding’s talents, as he has the potential to be a future star in English football. The London side has done well to retain his service for the long haul. The English defender has already proven his worth since arriving from Bolton in the summer of 2016.
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However, it could also be argued that it is a gamble to keep hold of Holding as he is yet to feature for the Gunners regularly during the course of a season. It remains to be seen what lies ahead in the future of Holding and whether his contract extension at the Emirates Stadium turns out to be the right move in the near future.
