Arsenal leader opens up on blocked move to Newcastle United

Arsenal defender Rob Holding has opened on his failed move to Newcastle United in 2020.

The Magpies agreed to sign Holding on loan for the 2020/21 Premier League season but saw the move fall through at the last minute.

That was because boss Mikel Arteta pulled the plug on the deal, despite adding William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes to his ranks.

It left Steve Bruce without a centre-back signing that summer when the likes Callum Wilson, Ryan Fraser, Jamal Lewis and Jeff Hendrick joined.

Rob Holding opens up on failed Newcastle move

“It was always going to be a loan,” Holding told The Athletic. “I was just back from my ACL injury and thought I needed a full season of playing.

“But after the Community Shield against Liverpool, the boss said to me, ‘You’re going to play here, I don’t know why you’re planning on going on loan’. And I said, ‘If I’m going to play here then yeah, I’m happy, no problem’.

“And I ended up playing 35-odd Premier League games that year.”

The 26-year-old joined Arsenal from Bolton Wanderers in 2016 and has gone on to make 138 appearances.

Holding has captained the Gunners on the odd occasion, including their 3-1 pre-season victory over Orlando last week.