Rob Holding set to face off with former Arsenal academy ace at Wembley for Premier League promotion place

Add as preferred source on Google

While Arsenal’s season is drawing to a close in the Premier League, the campaign for some former stars is just heating up.

Running alongside the end of the Premier League season are the play-offs across the EFL, determining the rest of the leagues across England.

It can be jubilation or gut-wrenching for either team on the end of a final defeat at Wembley, of which there have been plenty over the years.

While Arsenal won’t be competing, they will have representatives out there on the pitch for this season’s Championship play-off final.

For two defenders, on either side, one will feel the enjoyment of promotion, while the other is condemned to defeat and another year in the second tier.

• READ MORE: The manager Ian Wright wanted at Arsenal before Unai Emery proves that he was ahead of the curve

Former Arsenal stars Rob Holding and Dan Ballard set for Championship play-off meeting

With Arsenal preparing for their final two matches of the Premier League season, two of their former stars are trying their hardest to break into the division.

One of those is Rob Holding, who is on loan at Sheffield United for the second half of the Championship campaign.

The former defender has only featured occasionally for the Blades from the bench since making the January switch, but he has still played a role.

Holding was banished by Crystal Palace following his move last season, though injury issues played a part in reducing his availability earlier this campaign.

With the 29-year-old fighting for a starting place next season, whether that’s with the Eagles or elsewhere, he could prove his value by helping Sheffield United earn promotion back to the Premier League.

Holding will face a challenge in doing so, though, with former Arsenal academy ace Dan Ballard and his Sunderland side.

The 25-year-old centre-back has been a regular for the Black Cats as they look to make a return to the Premier League for the first time since 2017.

Ballard has certainly played his part, scoring a last-gasp winner for Sunderland in the play-off semi-final second leg against Coventry.

The former Arsenal youngster will now be looking to cement his own place in the top flight, with one big match at Wembley awaiting.

• READ MORE: David Seaman says he has seen a really ‘special’ talent in Arsenal’s academy, ‘remember that name’

How have Dan Ballard and Rob Holding done since leaving Arsenal?

Mikel Arteta has let both Ballard and Holding leave the club in his time as Arsenal boss, with the backline taking a different shape since his arrival.

The pair have had mixed fortunes in that time, with Holding most notably struggling for minutes since his exit.

Holding joined Crystal Palace in 2023, but has played just once for the Eagles in the two years that have followed.

His 11 appearances on loan at Sheffield United this season have eclipsed that, but he still hasn’t secured a first-team spot.

Holding’s deal expires next summer, but there is every chance he faces a potential exit in the months ahead, regardless of winning promotion while on loan.

As for Ballard, he has simply grown from strength to strength since he made the move to Sunderland.

The former Hale End star has become a regular in the Championship for the Black Cats, cementing his place in their team.

It remains to be seen whether he will be given a chance in the Premier League to prove himself, but he has clearly taken some big steps since leaving the Gunners.