In what could be argued as the biggest game of his Arsenal career Rob Holding struggled against an encouraged Tottenham Hotspur. He found himself sent off by Paul Tierney in the decisive north London derby which boosted Spurs’ Champions League qualification hopes that would eventually be realised.
Holding faces the bad omen of Tierney again this weekend with the official set to referee Arsenal’s trip to Anfield at the weekend. Since the damaging 3-0 Spurs defeat, Tierney has extended his run of overseeing Gunners’ defeats to five in a row after the 1-0 FA Cup defeat to Manchester City and 3-1 loss at Old Trafford in which he ruled out Gabriel Martinelli’s seemingly fine opener.
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Not only is Holding coming in having played in back-to-back Arsenal victories over Crystal Palace and Leeds United but the players around him are a serious step up. Thomas Partey should be the starter in midfield instead of Mohamed Elneny.
To the right, Cedric Soares is long gone having been sent on loan to Fulham in January. Ben White will continue in the right-back role which has seen him develop into one of, if not, the best players in the position in the league.
To the left is who I personally see as the best centre-back in the Premier League right now, Gabriel Magalhaes. Gabriel partnered Holding at Tottenham last season, granted, but this version of the Brazilian is a year older and far better.
It is natural to be nervous about having to go to Anfield with a full-strength team let alone without your starting centre-half, William Saliba. However, Holding, who has two FA Cup final triumphs to his name, has shown to come in on Merseyside to help keep a clean sheet.
In the 24th minute of a League Cup semi-final first-leg clash, Granit Xhaka was sent off and Arteta called on Holding to help his side solidify his side. The Gunners experienced an onslaught of 17 shots from the home side but Holding and White in particular were seen as huge reasons for the strong defensive display.
The contexts of both sides are far different this time however and the Gunners will be aiming to take the game to their opponents instead of absorbing pressure. An Arsenal win could be decisive in the title race and therefore Holding would be credited with being imperative to it.
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