Arsenal's Rob Holding fires warning to teammate William Saliba after loan return

Arsenal defender Rob Holding has reminded returning loanee William Saliba that plenty of other centre-backs have come and gone over the last few years.

Saliba returns to his parent club after an impressive season on loan at Marseille, where he was named young player of the year in Ligue 1. He also earned his first senior caps for France, and Marseille were understandably keen to pursue a permanent deal only for Arsenal to knock that idea on the head with academy director Per Mertesacker singing the defender's praises.

The 21-year-old is expected to play a bigger role at the Emirates Stadium during the upcoming season, having featured in the Gunners' warm-up friendlies. However, plenty of big names have tried and failed to establish themselves in north London since Holding arrived from Bolton Wanderers in 2016.

“I’ve been here seven years now and the club have made other signings at centre-half since I’ve been there,” Holding told The Athletic. “It comes down to me backing myself and proving to the manager that I’m good enough to play — and that’s spoken for itself over the past six years.

“I’ve seen a few centre-halves that have come in and have now gone, and I’m still here — so I must be doing something right. It’s another challenge, and we go from there.”

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