Holding out for rest of the season

Arsenal defender Rob Holding will miss the rest of the season with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. 

The centre-back suffered the season-ending injury following a challenge with Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford in Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with The Red Devils at Old Trafford on Wednesday night.

Manager Unai Emery indicated that the 23-year-old’s injury was “not good” from the early signs.

A statement on the Arsenal website said: “Rob will undergo surgery to repair this in the coming days. The rehabilitation process is expected to take between six to nine months.

“Everyone at the club will now be working as hard as we can to ensure Rob is back on the pitch as soon as possible.”

Holding’s absence will be felt with the Gunners already thin in their defensive numbers. Laurent Koscielny continues to work his way back from a long-term injury and left-back Nacho Monreal is also sidelined.

Holding joined Arsenal from Bolton in 2016 for a fee of around £2 million. The English centre-back featured 16 times for Emery in all competitions this season.