Rob Holding has recalled the moment he first heard Arsenal were watching him.

Holding, 23, had spent just one season in the Championship with Bolton when he made the move to Arsenal in the summer of 2016 for close to £2million.

He told Sky Sports: "It was Dave Lee who was my Under-18s coach. He pulled me to one side and said: 'Steve Bould's watching.'

"I didn't even know who Steve Bould was! That's how ignorant I was.

"I said to my dad that Steve Bould is watching. 'Steve Bould?! Arsenal centre-half legend!'

"And I'm thinking: 'Ooh, I'm sorry! I don't know!'"

Holding later learned of Arsenal's wish to sign him when he was stopped from playing for Bolton.

"It was our last game of the season on the coach down to Fulham and the manager at the time who was Jimmy Phillips, he was caretaker manager, he just pulled me and said: 'I've had a phone call from the chairman and I can't play you.

"They don't want you injured on the last game of the season so I can't play you.' It was crazy."