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‘I wanted to be like Adams and Keown’

Rob Holding says he admired Tony Adams and Martin Keown’s leadership when he was growing up.

The England Under-21s defender made his Arsenal debut in the MLS All-Star game and scored his first goal for the club in a 3-1 victory over Chivas on Sunday.

“Growing up I liked to think I modelled my game on Rio Ferdinand, especially the way he played when he was in a partnership with Nemanja Vidic at Manchester United,” Holding told Arsenal Player prior to the United States tour.

“I also watched Arsenal growing up and they had the likes of Tony Adams, Sol Campbell and Martin Keown who are all top-drawer centre halves that I admired and wanted to be like.

“I just liked how much of a leader they were on the pitch, Tony Adams especially. Sol Campbell was just a brick wall and you couldn’t get around him.

“I was pretty limited to watching the Premier League. I’d say Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique [were other players I admired] at Barcelona. They’re two top-drawer centre halves and I like Sergio Ramos and Pepe at Real Madrid too.”

 

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