Holding signs a new long-term contract with Arsenal
Rob Holding has signed a new long-term contract with Arsenal that will keep him at the club until 2024 with an option for a further 12 months.
The 25-year-old has been a big part of manager Mikel Arteta’s plans this season which has seen him make 18 appearances in all competitions. It is understood that members of the Arsenal hierarchy believe Holding is a potential leader in the dressing room.
The former Bolton Wanderers defender was close to joining Newcastle United on a season-long loan deal in the summer but Arteta intervened at the last minute and kept him at the club. That move seems to have paid off for the Gunners as Holding has put in a number of impressive performances for the North London club this season.
He captained the Gunners in their 2-1 defeat against Everton at Goodison Park last month which showed the faith Arteta has in the English central defender. He has played a crucial role in Arsenal’s upturn in form in recent weeks by forging an effective partnership with Pablo Mari and keeping things tight at the back.
Holding joined Arsenal for £1 million from Bolton Wanderers in 2016 and since joining the club, he has made 96 appearances in all competitions and won two FA Cups.
On Holding signing a new deal at Arsenal, Arteta said:
“Since I started as manager, I have been hugely impressed with Rob’s contribution to the club and the dressing room, on and off the pitch. The quality of his work every day on the training pitches is excellent and he is translating this into consistently high performances in matches. “
“We all know Rob’s quality, which he has shown in his displays during the intense moments of those two FA Cup final victories. We are all very happy that Rob has signed a new contract, he is very popular with all the players and staff, and we’re looking forward to watching him continue to grow with us in the coming years.”
On securing the long-term future of the 25-year-old defender, technical director Edu Gaspar said:
“We are very happy to have signed Rob on a new contract extension. He is 25 years old, so is still coming into the peak of his career, and we are delighted that he’ll be with us during these important years. Rob has shown great quality and maturity on and off the pitch in recent months and is developing well. We are looking forward to Rob continuing his progression in the years to come.”
