Arsenal has been afforded a big boost ahead of the new season as the center back Rob Holding has resumed full training following a 9-month injury lay off. The English defender was injured in Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford last December.
Holding clashed with Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford while going for the same ball an as a result raptured his knee tendons. Prior to his injury, Rob Holding had emerged as an Unai Emery favorite and had stated in almost all matches that Arsenal had played.
In his absence, Arsenal was a shambles defensively and conceded 51 Premier League goals, eventually missing out on a top 4 finish. Worse was still to come as the Gunners lost the Europa League final 4-1 to Chelsea in Baku.
On Wednesday however, Rob Holding trained with Unai Emery’s first-team squad as they continue with the pre-season activities. French striker Alexandre Lacazette even sent a tweet welcoming his teammate back.
Welcome Back Bro 🥰 ♣️9 pic.twitter.com/z56oZd1Ff8
— Alexandre Lacazette (@LacazetteAlex) July 17, 2019
And Arsenal agreed…
We're all as buzzing as Laca to see Rob back on the pitch 😍
❤️ @RobHolding95 pic.twitter.com/6Dqip6g7WE
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) July 17, 2019
Holding’s return will be great news to Unai Emery who already has one defensive problem to solve after club captain Laurent Koscielny refused to travel with the team for the United States pre-season tour.
That left the Spanish head coach with only two it starting center backs in Shkodran Mustafi and Sokratis. Koicleny is said to be ager for a move away from the Emirates with a host of Fench clubs interested in his services.
Arsenal has not been linked with a defender so far in this window but in Arsene Wenger’s famous words, ‘Rob Holding will be like a new signing.