Holding disaster a long time coming
Going into a game like this, a lack of belief is like a bad apple. One player without the confidence to get a victory can infect the whole batch.
From early on it became clear that Rob Holding was that player. The 27-year-old set the tone for the night by simply ducking and covering as Manchester City launched their first aerial assault on the Arsenal back line. The imperious Erling Haaland almost couldn't believe how easy it was as he plucked the ball out of the sky under a minimal challenge, before turning and playing in Kevin De Bruyne for the opener.
