Arsenal: Rob Holding Has Certainly Surpassed Per Mertesacker
Arsenal’s defense is shaping up rather nicely with the addition of Shkodran Mustafi and Rob Holding, but where does Per Mertesacker stand?
The transfer window is closed and everyone is toying around with their best Arsenal starting XI. Most of the positions are quite obvious and easy to fill, particularly on defense. Laurent Koscielny is the first name on most people’s team sheets and Gabriel is there to back him up.
But there seems to be a lack of unanimity when it comes to who backs up Laurent Koscielny’s new partner, Shkodran Mustafi. Some are penciling in the aging Per Mertesacker, some the young and sprightly Rob Holding.
It’s not an easy debate to call, but when all factors (which will be discussed) have been considered, it has to be Rob Holding that emerges as the preferred deputy.
For starters. Mertesacker is out until 2017. That gives Holding half a season at the very least to put a clamp on that back up role behind Mustafi. He has already shown, through three games, that he has the quality to be a top defender in the EPL, it’s just a matter of time. Half a season is a good chunk of time to work towards that goal.
Moving on from the timing aspect, we have to look at the future prospects. Mertesacker’s contract is up at the end of the year. Holding figures to be here for many years to come. What good comes from letting Mertesacker run out his contract as a deputy when it’s Holding who could be utilizing the game time to bolster his skill set and experience?
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In terms of what they bring to the team, this is the only category that swings more towards the middle. Mertesacker was a fantastic defender for Arsenal, one of the most intelligent we will ever see. But at this point in his career, he can’t offer the Gunners much more than a bit of leadership in their future progression.
Mertesacker deserves all the respect in the world, but it’s Holding that needs to be given that deputy role and truly grab hold of it, which he essentially already has. Plus, we have already seen that he has that same intelligence and ‘sit back and absorb’ mentality that every good partner of Laurent Koscielny should have.
All these things seem to make it more than clear that it’s Holding that should be favored over Mertesacker, but you tell me, Gooners. When everyone is healthy, who do you turn to as a deputy?
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