Why Rob Holding should leave Arsenal this summer

Rob Holding is one of Arsenal’s longest-serving players, having first joined the club in 2016 from Bolton Wanderers. 

The 27-year-old has provided some brilliant performances for the Gunners over the years, but he failed to nail down a regular spot in the first-team at the Emirates Stadium. 

He made the most appearances for the North Londoners during the 2020-21 season when he started 28 Premier League matches. 

But the central defender has been on the fringes of the squad in the last two seasons. 

Holding still has a year on his contract at the Emirates but we believe he should leave Arsenal this summer. 

William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes are currently Mikel Arteta’s first-choice centre-back pairing. The two were excellent last term, playing a key role in helping the Gunners compete with Manchester City for the Premier League title. 

But Saliba suffered a serious injury in March that allowed Holding an opportunity in the first-team. 

The 27-year-old failed to impress Arteta with his performances and was dropped from the team for the final four league matches. 

His chances for first-team football next term looks very slim with the Gunners expected to add another centre-back to their ranks this summer. 

According to David Ornstein, Arsenal will be actively looking to bring in reinforcements in central defence during this transfer window. 

Holding is only 27-years-old and he should be playing regular football at this stage of his career. 

Sheffield United and Leeds United have been credited with an interest in the English footballer. 

The prospect of playing in the Championship is unlikely to be appealing for him as Leeds were recently relegated to the second-tier. 

But Holding could be open to a move to Sheffield who secured Premier League promotion after a superb 2022-23 season.