Per Mertesacker says he’s happy with the way Holding has stepped up and adapted to the pressure the young centre-back has faced in his second season.

After breaking into the team towards the end of the 2016/17 campaign, there are different expectations around Holding this season. He’s no longer the new £2m signing who needs to be given a chance. Now he’s a potential starter, and that provokes different responses from critics and fans alike.

Mertesacker says it’s normal to have some ups and downs at this point in your career, telling Arsenal.com: “I think he’s coming right back. In your second year, that’s the normal struggle you go through. Sometimes it’s hard to explain, because he just wants to keep going. It doesn’t always go like that.

“I’m quite happy with his recent form, because he’s stepped up again and tried to prioritise. Sometimes you have to make sure you win your duels and play the simple pass, instead of playing that final ball.”

Arsenal are regularly accused of overplaying it and taking too many risks at the back, so it’s probably best if Holding does try to keep things simple in general, for now. That allows the more experienced players to decide when to play direct passes, which in turn can help teach Rob when it’s worth taking a chance.

Holding may now get a run in the team, if Chambers and Mustafi aren’t back any time soon, which will be a good thing to help him learn and adapt a bit more. Of course, it also means he needs to step up to the challenge, because the Gunners can’t afford to carry anyone at the moment.