In a recent report, The Daily Mail claimed that Arsenal have rejected a £2m bid for Rob Holding this summer. It is believed that the Gunners have declined a £2m offer from Besiktas despite signing Jurrien Timber from Ajax recently.
Holding’s Recent Campaign In North London
Holding played a sporadic role in Mikel Arteta’s squad last season as he managed to put in a few solid displays for them on the defensive third of the pitch. The English defensive ace made 24 appearances for the Gunners in the previous campaign, scoring two goals across all competitions.
The 27-year-old saw a lot of his game time come off the bench which could be why he only averaged 0.6 tackles and 1.9 clearances per game in the Premier League. He even distributed the ball accurately from the back based on his pass completion rate of 86.8% in the English top tier (stats via whoscored).
His current deal at the Emirates Stadium will run out at the end of next season. Thus, it makes sense for Mikel Arteta to cash in on him this summer or else risk losing him for nothing next year.
Should Arsenal Boss Mikel Arteta Cut Holding Loose?
Holding can get stuck in with a few solid tackles to make life tough for the opposition inside his half. He usually clears the danger when needed and excels at playing his way out from the back. Holding mainly functions as a central defender but can also fill in as a right-back if asked to do so.
However, the English talent has often found himself behind William Saliba and Gabriel in Arteta’s pecking order. Plus, the arrival of Jurrien Timber suggests that he is not in the Arsenal head coach’s plans for the next season.
Thus, it makes sense for the Gunners to cut Holding loose ahead of the new campaign. The North London giants would be wise to use the money generated from his potential sale to bolster other areas of their squad during this summer transfer period.
At 27, Holding is playing in his prime at the moment. Hence, it is only fair to the defender if Arsenal allow him to leave in search of more first-team football this summer.
