---
title: "Arsenal: ESPN’s Paul Mariner laughs off Rob Holding’s chances"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/arsenal-espns-paul-mariner-laughs-off-rob-holdings-chances/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Stephan Georgiou"
section: "Arsenal Football Club"
published: "2019-07-18T22:00:05Z"
modified: "2019-07-18T22:00:05Z"
---

# Arsenal: ESPN’s Paul Mariner laughs off Rob Holding’s chances

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Pundits-choice.png)

**ESPN pundit Paul Mariner has had his say on the Laurent Koscielny situation at Arsenal – and doesn’t back anyone in the Gunners defence to come to the rescue, with the Frenchman’s career in North London hanging in the balance following his [refusal](https://www.arsenal.com/news/club-statement-laurent-koscielny) to take part in the team’s pre-season preparations.**

With the club yet to punish their captain for his actions, his future at the club remains unclear – leaving the squad with fewer options at the back heading into the new campaign, having made no [defensive signings](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fc-arsenal/transfers/verein/11/saison_id/2019) during the transfer window so far.

And Mariner, a former Arsenal player, has concerns over the state of the defence – and seemed to pick on Rob Holding in particular when assessing the makeup of The Gunners’ potential back-four for next season.

Speaking to ESPN FC (via the [Daily Star](https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/792061/Arsenal-news-Rob-Holding-injury-Laurent-Koscielny-Unai-Emery)), he said: “Koscielny is not the player that he used to be, but he’s still one of the better players that they’ve got in that back four – and it’s not a very good back four.

“Everybody’s waiting for Rob Holding to come back, he’s gonna be the saviour – he’s not gonna be the saviour! He is not!”

Holding has not featured for the club since sustaining a serious [injury](https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/arsenal-dealt-injury-blow-as-holding-ruled-out-for-rest-of/c2qshdssl6iw1k37f0kozcoy5) during Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Manchester United in December.

The 23-year-old had enjoyed a fairly impressive season up until that point, as the team went [without defeat](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/rob-holding/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/253341/plus/0?saison=2018&verein=&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id=) with the centre-back in the side during the earlier stages of the 2018/19 campaign.

Mariner did not appear to elaborate on his reasons to brutally shoot down Holding’s chances of filling the void that could be left in the event of a Koscielny absence resulting from his actions – be that at the club or elsewhere.

However, Holding’s recent record on the pitch [(11 wins and five draws last season)](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/rob-holding/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/253341/plus/0?saison=2018&verein=&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id=) does provide encouragement of his return giving Arsenal a much-needed boost in their defensive ranks – and whether or not Koscielny ends up playing in an Arsenal shirt again, Holding could be part of the defensive combination that works for Arsenal if his unbeaten run in a Gunners shirt continues upon his comeback.