Gabriel Agbonlahor feels sorry for Rob Holding after labelling the Arsenal player ‘a Championship defender’.
Holding has come into the side in place of injured centre-back William Saliba, with the Gunners unable to keep a clean sheet since.
The 27-year-old has faced plenty of criticism in recent weeks and Arsenal have failed to register a victory in four games to put back in control of the title race.
Roy Keane while Agbonlahor slammed the Englishman following the 3-3 home draw against Southampton.
‘Holding for me is a Championship defender and not good enough to be centre-half at a team that wants to win the title,’ Agbonlahor said before the 4-1 defeat to City at the Etihad on Wednesday.
‘Since Saliba has been injured, they’ve conceded nine goals in five games, three draws in a row. That’s not championship form.
‘Manchester City will put three or four past Arsenal. Haaland will be in the changing room saying [he] can’t wait to play against Holding and Gabriel.’
Speaking after Arsenal’s loss to City, though, Agbonlahor now feels bad for those remarks.
‘I sort of felt sorry for Holding,’ Agbonlahor told on Thursday.
‘Everyone is criticising him, but he’s just not at that level. When we said Haaland would be licking his lips, that’s just the truth.’
talkSPORT host Alan Brazil replied: ‘What do you mean you feel sorry for him? You probably put him off his game saying he’s a Championship defender!’
‘He’s just not good enough,’ Agbonlahor replied.
