Arsenal legend Kolo Toure has claimed that too much blame is being put on Rob Holding for the north Londoners' recent drop-off in form.
Mikel Arteta's side have drawn each of their last three Premier League fixtures, conceding seven in the process, allowing title rivals Manchester City to close the gap at the top of the table. Some supporters have since pointed the fingers at defender Holding, who has replaced the injured William Saliba in each of Arsenal's last five league outings.
But Toure has urged Arteta to keep Holding in the starting line-up for Wednesday's potential title decider against the Citizens. The Invincibles centre-back told football.london: "I will stick with him because it's not easy to come into a team that is winning.
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"He hasn't played a lot of games but he's a player that the manager trusts. I don't think the (recent) results have only been his fault. It's been the (entire) team, in my opinion, it's not only him who defends. Everybody defends with him.
"You just need to to stay calm and just try to help his team because he's part of the team. When you're a manager, you have 23 players that you count on and when there's an injured player, there's one who will have to come and Holding has been trying his best. And for me, it's too easy to blame him because he's the one who is playing right now, but he is doing his best, and it's up to the team to to make sure they can help him perform as well."
Speaking earlier this month, Toure singled out City's defending out wide as a potential weakness for Arsenal to exploit at the Etihad Stadium. Now, the former Ivory Coast defender is backing Gunners wingers Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka to be the key men for the visitors. "Absolutely, absolutely," he replied when asked if the two 21-year-olds could be crucial come Wednesday.
"Martinelli is in great form. What an unbelievable player. Saka. Unbelievable player. Both of them are unbelievable wingers and like I was saying last time, I think Man City can be open on the sides with the rotations they do in the middle. But you have to make sure you get the ball first really before you hurt them.
"That will be a big task for Arsenal. I think in the previous game they played together and they put Man City under big, big pressure. If they do the same and they take away a few mistakes so they don't concede goals like they did last time they played against Man City, I think they can surprise everyone and win this game."
Toure, who won a Premier League title for both Arsenal and City, was then pressed to give a prediction for the match on Wednesday evening, to which he replied by saying: "Wow. I haven't thought about that but City, playing at home, they are the favourites for sure. It can be a good 2-1 game, to Man City yeah."
If the Citizens do secure the win, they will be just two points behind the Gunners with an additional two games in hand, making them heavy favourites to win their fifth league title in the last six years. Meanwhile, the north Londoners are still waiting for their first title since Toure's tenure with the club, winning back in 2004.
But the former Ivory Coast international has backed Arteta and co to challenge again next year if they are unable to get over the line this term. He added: "They have created an unbelievable squad now, Edu and Arteta. Their squad is really strong, young fresh players, aggressive players who want to do it and I'm sure they'll be back definitely.
"And for sure, they're going to strength then a little bit more and maybe strengthen the bench a little bit more. And then every time they bring a player on the pitch, the substitute will increase the level of the team."
West Ham United captain Declan Rice remains Arsenal's priority for the summer transfer window, football.london understands and Toure is convinced that the England international would be the perfect addition for the Gunners if he is signed at the end of the current campaign. "He's a decent player, a big engine, can run and a great fighter," Toure said when asked if Rice would be a good addition at the Emirates.
"He is a good leader, too. Arsenal need leaders in the team and he we would definitely help them in the middle of the pack, for sure."
It's Game On for the title. Watch Man City v Arsenal, the biggest game of the season, exclusively live on BT Sport 1 on Wednesday 26 th April from 7pm. BT Sport will broadcast all Premier League midweek fixtures from Tuesday 25 th to Thursday 27 th April. Watch 30 days of BT Sport, contract-free, for £29.99 a month with the BT Sport Monthly Pass. For more info, visit: bt.com/sport/monthly-pass
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