Arsenal signing Rob Holding overcomes pre-match nerves to put in 'brilliant' performance in MLS All-Star win

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James Benge29 July 2016

Rob Holding admitted he had suffered a case of the pre-match jitters before his first match in an Arsenal shirt but is convinced he did enough to make a decent impression on Arsene Wenger.

The former Bolton centre-back was paired with Krystian Bielik, 18, in a youthful backline tasked with keeping at bay a formidable MLS All Star frontline that included David Villa, Kaka and former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba.

Though the Gunners were not able to keep out their one-time nemesis Drogba from scoring late in the first half Holding still emerged with plenty of credit from a 2-1 victory, secured through Chuba Akpom’s late finish, in which he proved himself to have an impressive reading of the game.

Holding could even have marked his first Arsenal appearance with a goal, but the centre-back headed over from a Granit Xhaka just two minutes before Akpom scored the winner.

Arsenal in pre-season training

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“I think I did all right,” Holding told the club website. “It would have topped it off had my header gone in from that corner. That would have been a bit of a glory moment, but I'll keep working on it and it will come hopefully.

“I was a bit nervous coming into it. I was bound to be, but once I was on the pitch and warming up the jitters go and you are OK then. Your stomach settles and you feel good.”

Wenger, who admitted his surprise at how swiftly Holding had adapted to the demands of playing for Arsenal, was not the only one to be impressed by the summer arrival.

Calum Chambers could find himself battling with Holding and Gabriel for a starting spot on the opening season but he still offered a glowing assessment of the ex-Bolton defender’s first appearance in an Arsenal shirt.

“I thought he was brilliant,” Chambers said. “He’s a great player both defensively and on the ball.

“He’s got composure, he’s great to play alongside.”

Chambers, who played the second half alongside Holding after replacing Bielik, is expected to start Arsenal’s next friendly in the early hours of Monday morning, when they face Chivas in Los Angeles.

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