Unai Emery to give English starlet Arsenal captaincy?

Laurent Koscielny has sent shockwaves through Arsenal veins after demanding to leave before their preseason tour.

After urging to be released from his contract in a bid to return to France, Koscielny had just 12 months left on his contract. But will the Frenchman be replaced as captain by youngster Rob Holding?

Emery suggests that the club are to have five captains, and considers Holding a leading candidate.

“I want one English player in these five captains. Last year  Granit Xhaka, Mesut [Ozil] and Nacho [Monreal] were working as captains. But after Aaron Ramsey and Petr Cech left – and possibly Laurent Koscielny – I will want more.

“An English player who grew up in our academy can understand the English spirit and Arsenal values. These are the qualities and more”.

Holding joined Arsenal in 2016 from Bolton Wanderers, and has gone on to make 60 appearances for the Gunners, and the 23-year-old would certainly prove a surprise choice considering the options available to Emery, such as Monreal, Xhaka and Bernd Leno to name a few.

Holding began his Arsenal career with a 4-3 defeat at home to Liverpool on the opening day of 2o16/17, and continued to develop throughout that season and the next before becoming a more regular starter in this one. Unfortunately he suffered serious ruptured knee ligament injury in December at Old Trafford, which prevented him featuring for the remainder of the season.

He certainly has shown leadership qualities in the past but whether he is sufficient to the captaincy is another thing. At 23, will he command the respect of his teammates? At such a young age will he have the consistency and nous in performance which creates stability?

Matthijs de Ligt did it at 19. However, this Arsenal team is need of long-term stability and growth. Whether Holding provides that remains to be seen.