Rob Holding is just 22, and right at the start of his career as a centre back.
He’s had plenty of ups in his first year and a bit with us, and a couple of downs too. But as Arsene Wenger has said, that’s all part of the learning curve. And the young defender agrees.
“It’s part of the game and you’re going to come across it,” he said. “You’re not going to have a career that’s going to go straight up to the point where you’re at the top of wherever you want to be.
“You have ups and downs and it’s how we react to them that counts. With the staff around, they’ve been helpful, we’ve cracked on in the gym and out on the pitch too. It’s about getting your confidence back and getting back to how you’re playing, and where you want to be going.”
Holding is likely to line up against Red Star Belgrade on Thursday and, at the pre-match press conference, he described the difference between the Europa League and domestic football.
“With our last game against Red Star Belgrade, the atmosphere there and the crowd, there is a different feel to it,” he said. “The way that teams set up is different to the Premier League, and it is all going to teach me about different occasions and how to deal with that.
“I am sure they will bring a big following and it is about how we play our normal game, put that [noise] to the side and concentrate on what we need to do.”
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