Arsenal defender Rob Holding says the team doesn’t aspire to be like Chelsea

Arsenal defender Rob Holding says the team doesn't aspire to be like Chelsea.

Emirates Stadium-Arsenal

Holding says the Gunners don’t want to be like their rivals Chelsea.

Arsenal defender Rob Holding has said that he doesn’t see Chelsea as they want to be like.

The Gunners are currently in a transition period after reaching new lows over the last few seasons.

Mikel Arteta has been heavily scrutinised for the lacklustre 20/21 season. They agonisingly finished at the eighth place of the table, meaning there won’t be any European competition for the Gunners next season.

Nonetheless, Holding says the Gunners see their fellow Londoners Chelsea only as competitive rivals.

Holding said: “I see Chelsea as a competitive rival for us.

“I don’t see them as a team we aspire to be like, and I don’t think they see us that way either. There’s a mutual respect between us and a recent history with FA Cup finals and playing each other in big games.

“I don’t think that, because they won the Champions League, we need to be more like Chelsea. Our results and league position need to improve, of course, but when we play each other it’s competitive.

Holding also added that the North Londoners could take advantage of the absence of European competition to return to their best.

“We’ve got to be aiming to get back in the Champions League. With no Europe this season, we’ve got no distractions or fixture congestion and can really focus on our Premier League games.

“I think Liverpool did the same a few years ago, and Chelsea similarly when they won the league in Antonio Conte’s first year. So it can be a blessing in disguise in some aspects.

“We’ve just got to think of it that way and hit the ground running.”

In contrast with Arsenal, the Blues enjoyed a spectacular season last term, culminating in the Champions League title.

Thomas Tuchel was the mastermind behind it as he had transformed the Londoners into one of the forces to be recognised within a span of just less than eight months.