Rob Holding has revealed Unai Emery took him aside to tell him to be ready to play more often as the fixture schedule ramps up with European and cup football to contend with.
The centre-half has been on the bench for most of the season, but played his first 90 minutes in the 4-2 victory over FC Vorskla and then came on to replaced the injured Sokratis in yesterday’s 2-0 win over Everton.
He looked comfortable and assured, and spoke about how the new boss had a quiet word with him about his involvement.
Asked if he felt ‘match fit’, the 22 year old said, “That’s something that you obviously only get with matches, so it’s something I’ve had to work on in training.
“Before the international break the boss pulled me in and said ‘Keep doing what you’re doing, the games are coming thick and fast now.’
“So I just had to be ready mentally and physically, and I’ve been fine in both games, so I look forward to it.”
Holding should start again in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday when Arsenal face Brentford at the Emirates, and he says the clean sheet in the Everton game is a monkey off the team’s back.
“We’ve obviously conceded in each game so the clean sheet is a big boost for us and that was the target for the last few games, to keep a clean sheet!
“It’s good to get that off our back now and we can push on for the rest of the season.”