Arsenal have completed their third summer signing, with Rob Holding, the talented centre-back, moving from Bolton Wanderers. The Gunners agreed a fee for the 20-year-old earlier this week, and with a medical also completed, all that remained was the official announcement on the club's website, which duly came on Friday.
"We have agreed to sign young defender Rob Holding from Bolton Wanderers on a long-term contract," said a statement on the Arsenal website.
Holding was one of the few bright spots in Bolton's campaign last season, breaking into the first team before taking away the club's player of the year honours. That, naturally, caught the eye of the bigger clubs, with Arsenal, who have already signed Granit Xhaka and Takuma Asano, moving to complete a deal worth around £2-2.5 million.
Arsenal have four centre-backs in the team already in Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny, Gabriel and Calum Chambers, and it will be interesting to see what plans Arsene Wenger has for Holding, who can also play in the fullback positions.
"It's a massive club to have signed for," Holding told Arsenal's official website in an interview. "It's something you dream of as a kid, so I can't wait to get started.
"Arsenal give young players a massive boost. They know that if they work hard and stick to what they know, they'll get the chance. It's what we work for.
"There's massive competition here and it will only improve me. It will push me to new boundaries and hopefully I can prove my worth."
Arsenal, under Wenger, are, of course, known for their slick passing football, and with Holding pretty good with the ball at his feet as well, while bringing a bit of English ruggedness, the youngster believes the club suits him perfectly.
"I've watched them on the TV mainly," Holding said when asked what he knows about Arsenal. "I've never been down to London. They've always played nice football, they've got a reputation for playing nice football. That suits me and hopefully I can bring what I do."
Holding might also be able to play at right-back, much like Chambers, but the 20-year-old has no doubts over which his strongest position is. "Definitely centre-back," Holding added. "I felt more at home at centre-back than I was at right-back."
The youngster will not be a part of Arsenal's first preseason friendly against Lens on Friday, but the England U-21 international is expected to be on the flight to America for the club's US tour, where they will play MLS All-Stars and Chivas de Guadalajara.
