Arsenal’s summer signing Rob Holding is set to start his first competitive game for the club against Liverpool, according to a report in The Daily Star.
The club are currently light at the back and Holding is set to fill in when the season opens in a few weeks time.
The Gunners recently lost Per Mertesacker to a long term injury and will also be without Gabriel Paulista and Laurent Koscielny for the start of the season.
This has now forced Wenger to search for defensive reinforcements and with the manager running out of time to sign a centre back before the start of the season, new signing Rob Holding could make his competitive debut on the opening day of the season.
“At the moment we have Per Mertesacker out and we have Laurent Koscielny still on holiday, plus Gabriel,” Wenger said.“One of them will play at the start of the season or at least be in the squad.“At the moment I have a look at everybody and after I will make my final decision.“But as you just said, it’s true that Holding adapted very quickly.“All the three have top quality and all the three miss a little bit of experience.“I’ll have to make a decision in two weeks.”
The defender has been impressive in the club’s pre-season games so far and Wenger has been impressed by his performances.
“I am impressed by his performances and by his capacity to adapt very quickly to a higher level,” Wenger said.“He shows intelligence, composure, character and it’s impressive. You do not see that often.”
The defender joined Arsenal from League one club Bolton for a fee of about £2.5m this summer.
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