Rob Holding is back.
The central defender featured for the Arsenal U23's this afternoon (Saturday) and a number of supporters are simply delighted at the sight of the Englishman in action following a long injury lay-off.
The Gunners star was enjoying a decent run in the team until his 2018/2019 season came to an end prematurely in the 2-2 draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford last December
After an awkward landing, Holding had to be substituted in the first-half and later that week it was confirmed he ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament of his left knee and was facing up to nine months on the sidelines.
The closest person to the incident was Marcus Rashford, although the Arsenal star holds no grudges and revealed what he told the United forward who had made sure to check up on him.
"Marcus text me when the [extent of the] injury came out," Holding said. "He just dropped me a text and just said, 'Hi mate, sorry to hear about the injury, I didn’t mean it in any malicious way'.
"I didn’t take it as a personal attack on me, it’s just football. I just replied to him like, 'Yeah mate, don’t worry about it, it’s football, you didn’t even make a tackle, you just sort of ran into me, there's nothing in it, I’m not going to be judging you off that'.
"I’ve got nothing but respect for him and just wished him the best for the season.
"It wasn’t until a few nights when I was sort of in bed and on FaceTime to my girlfriend and just talking, and then thinking about it more, and then you sort of realise how long it’s going to be and you’re not going to play football, or kick a ball for three or four months."
Holding has been back training with the Gunners squad for well over a month now and got some minutes for the U23's against Watford at London Colney.
Take a look at how some fans have reacted to the 23-year-old's return on Twitter...
