What Bukayo Saka's love for Rob Holding says about Arsenal?

Add as a preferred source on Google

Arsenal continued their Premier League title charge with another comprehensive victory over Crystal Palace on Sunday (March 19).

A Bukayo Saka brace and goals from Granit Xhaka and Gabriel Martinelli set the Gunners in fantastic fashion as Mikel Arteta's men went eight points clear of Manchester City, albeit the latter have a game in hand.

Bukayo Saka, Arsenal's adored Starboy scored two fantabulous goals and continued his rich vein of form. The Arsenal star now has 12 league goals to his name and is having a stellar season. Saka has played 2410 minutes of league football so far and has been a pivotal part of Arsenal's title bid.

One who hasn't had a lot of time on the pitch is Rob Holding. The centre-back has been down the pecking order as William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes have established themselves as Arteta's first choice centre backs, and the pair have done wonders with their first-ever season together.

But a back injury to Saliba meant Holding was handed his first league start this season. The England international had played only 17 minutes prior to Sunday in the Premier League, with his longest stint being an 8-minute substitute appearance against Leeds United in October last year.

Holding was decent in the match. He completed 91 per cent of passes and made 5 clearances. It was a solid performance against the likes of Wilfried Zaha, but there were tiny moments of insecurities and uncertainties, which were left unpunished in the match. But overall, Holding didn't disappoint as he did the last time he started an important league game- getting a Red Card at Tottenham last season which played a big part in ending Arsenal's Champions League hopes this season.

Well, it is a simple story thus far, but it changes from here. Bukayo Saka was at the post-match interview with Arsenal media and was asked about Rob Holding. And the youngster poured all the love to his teammate.

Bukayo Saka on Rob Holding

"I gave him a big hug when he came into the changing room because he deserves it," Saka said with his vibrant smile, beaming in happiness at Holding's display.

"He was magnificent. We need that, you know, when he's coming in to stay at the level that we've been playing. He was unbelievable today, so credit to him," he added.

Arsenal and the Love Stories

These simple lines speak volumes of Arteta's Arsenal. Arsenal have been a tightly knitted team forever and the relations among the players have always been cordial and close - since the Arsene Wenger days.

Arteta's Arsenal is different

But this Mikel Arteta's Arsenal is epitomizing the term brotherhood. All these players in the team enjoy the success, endure the pain, celebrate, mourn and dream - and they all do it together.

Holding is a decent player, and along with that, he epitomizes professionalism. The defender knows his limited role but has done a job whenever Arteta has brought him on this season, so far seven substitute appearances before Sunday. The attitude has been brilliant, but Holding must have felt great when his name was on the starting lineup against Crystal Palace. And after a near-perfect performance, the icing on the cake will be the 'big hug' from Saka.

The discipline, the mutual respect these players have for each other, the support they provide to each other kind of reverberates around the whole club and that has been their driving force this season. This closeness was evident last season as well, when Aaron Ramsdale was ecstatic about Bernd Leno's clean sheet at Aston Villa, despite the latter replacing the former for a match during the course of the season.

The characters in the Arsenal team defining their season

The Arsenal boss deserves tons of credit for instilling this simple yet so rare attitude among a group of individuals. You can see Oleksandr Zinchenko, Granit Xhaka, Martin Odegaard - all are leaders in their own genre and Arsenal are blessed to have each of them.

Emirates feels home again

And the 'Love' has transpired each square foot of the Emirates this season. The atmosphere changed radically from the start of the season, and it has finally started to feel like a cauldron for away sides, as the roar of those Arsenal supporters have jittered the spines. You don't see the familiar boos, the disharmony among fans and those protests outside the stadium - rather you see fans cheering and inspiring the team in full volume after conceding a goal.

With 10 finals to go, Arsenal are on the cusp of a league triumph for the first time since 2004. They are currently eight points ahead and will be dreaming for the silverware. But even if Arsenal don't win the league, even if they remain trophyless this season - this season will be remembered as Arsenal finally finding the right direction after a shaky transition.

The institution of class that was built with care by Arsene Wenger, seems to have finally found a perfect heir - and the oozing Love is not just transforming Bukayo Saka and his teammates, but is defining Arsenal as a whole.