Arsenal news: Arsene Wenger 'has the guts' to start Rob Holding in Premier League opener against Liverpool
The former Bolton Wanderers defender signed from the League One club for £2m in July
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Your support makes all the difference.Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has hinted he may have to start the Premier League season with 20-year-old Rob Holding in defence after injuries to Per Mertesacker and Gabriel.
The former Bolton Wanderers defender signed from the League One club for £2m in July and was expected to be cover for their more experienced centre-backs, but is likely to be thrust into the first-team for the opening match against Liverpool this weekend.
“He’s done extremely well,” Wenger told talkSPORT. “That’s part of the game as well, you want the spectacular players to come to the Premier League, but that means young players lose that opportunity to get a chance.
“Arsenal are one of the clubs who still have the guts to do that. I know it’s more glamorous to sign a £60m player than to give a chance to a young player, but in my job you have to look and focus on the quality of the player, and not just the numbers.
“We’ve had two unexpected injuries with Mertesacker and Gabriel, and [Laurent] Koscielny came back very late so we are in a difficult position for Sunday’s game against Liverpool.
“This is very frustrating, but it’s a part of the game as well. Sometimes you find a solution that you wouldn’t find if you had no injuries.
“We are short on the experience front and this, centre-back, is a position where experience plays an important part.
“Of course we will look to add, we are working on it, but until Sunday I have to find an internal solution and an efficient solution.”
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