Arsenal to offer Holding new contract despite long-term injury as Emery ‘sees defender as Koscielny’s successor’
The Englishman is out for the remainder of the season after rupturing his ACL in December
Sponsored by
ARSENAL are set to offer Rob Holding a new contract despite his long-term knee injury, according to reports.
The defender, 23, is out for the remainder of the season with an anterior cruciate ligament rupture sustained against Manchester United in December.
But although he may not feature again until September, Gunners bosses are keen to tie him down at the Emirates.
According to the , boss Unai Emery was impressed by his partnership with Sokratis at the beginning of the season and wants to reward him with a new deal.
With club captain Laurent Koscielny now 33, many see Holding as his successor at the heart of the Arsenal defence for many years.
Holding joined the Gunners from Bolton in 2016 and signed an extension last summer to keep him at the Emirates until 2023.
He made 16 appearances this season before the horror injury, winning 11 and drawing five as part of Arsenal's 22-game unbeaten run.
Holding took to social media either side of the new year to update fans and followers on his progress.
Most recently, at the end of January, he posted a picture with fellow crocked Arsenal star Danny Welbeck on exercise bikes at the gym.
Like Holding, Welbeck is expected to be out for the remainder of the campaign after breaking his ankle in November.
Latest Arsenal news
However, unlike Holding, the striker is not expected to be offered a new contract at the club.
And with his current deal expiring this summer, Welbeck would become a free agent.