Rob Holding wants Arsenal to win the Europa League this season after his ACL injury kept him out of the final last year.

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 24: Rob Holding of Arsenal scores the second goal during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Arsenal and Nottingham Forest at Emirates Stadium on September 24, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 24: Rob Holding of Arsenal scores the second goal during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Arsenal and Nottingham Forest at Emirates Stadium on September 24, 2019, in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Arsenal have made the semi-final and the final of the Europa League in the last two years, but Holding has been unable to feature for the club on either occasion.

The centre-back was in and out of the team in 2017/18, with Laurent Koscielny and Shkodran Mustafi ahead of him, so he didn’t make a start in the Europa League from the last-16 round onwards.

Under Unai Emery in 2018/19, Holding found himself with more responsibility, but his ACL injury meant he missed the knockout stages once again.

The 24-year-old wants to change that this year, regardless of Arsenal’s top-four challenge. For those interested in sports betting online, Arsenal are the favourite for the competition this year, and winning it is a personal target for Holding.

“I think top four is more than within our capability,” Holding began. “I want to win the Europa League first and foremost because we got to the final last year and I was injured and didn’t get to play in it.

“So I would like to put that right this year as well. I think that top four and the Europa League trophy would be a brilliant way for the season to end.”

robholding v forest
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 24: Rob Holding of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team’s second goal of the game during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Arsenal FC and Nottingham Forrest at Emirates Stadium on September 24, 2019, in London, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

Arsenal have made a strong start to their Europa League campaign so far, winning 3-0 and 4-0 in their opening two games. Next up are Victoria on Thursday night, and another big win would leave the knockout stages within the team’s grasp.