Rob Holding played his first game for Arsenal against the MLS All-Stars on Friday and although he performed well, he admitted that he did suffer from some pre-match ‘jitters’.

The centre-back started alongside Krystian Bielik and both put in a good shift, with both showing promise despite the latter not being quite up to scratch.

Holding, who won Bolton Wanderers’ player of the season last term, was exciting to watch. He looked calm under pressure and one to definitely watch this pre-season However, little did we know the 20-year-old was actually nervous before kick-off.

“I was a bit nervous coming into it,” he said.

“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.”

584450848 arsenal defender rob holding looks on during gettyimages
(JOSH EDELSON/AFP/Getty Images)

Despite his solid performance, Holding did say that he wished he would have scored his header and I guess it’s good that he’s striving for more.

“I think I did all right,” he added.

“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.”

As long as he doesn’t put too much pressure on himself.

Arsene Wenger knows what he’s about, he wouldn’t start him if he wasn’t ready, so the player just has to trust his boss and know that, if he carries on putting in the work, he’ll progress.