Arsenal centre half Rob Holding has thanked manager Arsene Wenger for persuading him to remain at the Gunners in the January, and giving him the guidance needed to improve his game.
The 21 year old signed from Bolton Wanderers for £2.5m at the start of the campaign. After just one season of senior football, he was thrown in at the deep at the end by starting the club’s first three Premier League matches.
He was then not picked again for a league game until Middlesbrough in April, although he did play in cup competitions as well as the 4-1 win over Basel in the Champions League back in December. Speaking to the Evening Standard, Holding thanked Wenger for sticking with him and not letting him go out on loan:
“I didn’t leave in January as the boss wanted me around the team. He saw me playing. I just had to listen to him and keep working hard on the things he mentioned. That has spoken for itself over the last few games.”
Holding will likely start the FA Cup Final this weekend with Laurent Koscielny suspended and with Gabriel out of action for two months with a knee injury.
