Every Arsenal centre-back outlasted by Rob Holding after William Saliba warning

Arsenal have a new centre-back to fight it out with Rob Holding this season, but the former Bolton Wanderers man isn't worried about the competition.

Holding joined Arsenal in the summer of 2016, and has had to wait for his chance under more than one manager. However, the Englishman is clearly confident in his abilities, recognising that several pretenders have come and gone while he has stood firm.

Next up is WIlliam Saliba, who is finally getting a chance to impress after spending the bulk of the last three years out on loan in his native France. However, as he will see, Saliba wouldn't be the first Arsenal defender to fail to outlast Holding at the Emirates Stadium.

Shkodran Mustafi

Mustafi arrived during a busy end to the summer 2016 transfer window, not long after Holding. The German joined as part of a £50m deadline day double-swoop which also saw Lucas Perez rock up in north London, and neither justified their fee.

While striker Perez left after just one year, Mustafi did at least last longer. However, despite impressing for Germany at Euro 2016, a run of alarming form prompted Mikel Arteta to dispense with the Arsene Wenger signing.

Mustafi spoke highly of Arteta in the early days, paying particular reference to his "detailed" training sessions and saying "I think it made it easier for every single one of us". Soon, though, the former Valencia man was being moved on for nothing before suffering La Liga relegation with Levante.

Calum Chambers

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Chambers arrived at Arsenal before Holding, but was out on loan at Middlesbrough during the 2016-17 season. A return offered a chance to climb back up the queue, but it didn't quite happen for him.

The former Southampton man suffered from his versatility. He has featured at right-back and central midfield as well as at the heart of the Gunners' defence, but never with any real regularity.

Injuries also played their part where Chambers was concerned, particularly the ACL damage which cut short his 2019-20 season. He finally left Arsenal in January 2022, joining Aston Villa in a cut-price deal, and has already earned minutes for Steven Gerrard's side.

Sead Kolasinac

Kolasinac was signed as a full-back during the Wenger era, and even had the capacity to be used further forward. Still, as Mikel Arteta moved towards a back three for certain games, the Bosnian was given game time in a more central role.

With the exception of the current manager's first season, though, Kolasinac hasn't really been part of the Gunners' plans. He was loaned out to former club Schalke in 2020-21, suffering relegation from the Bundesliga, and left permanently for Marseille in January 2022.

"Thank you Gunners, for the past years - even though it hasn't been easy sometimes," the 29-year-old said upon confirming his exit. "I always tried my best to give you my all."

Dinos Mavropanos

Like Saliba, Mavropanos arrived as one for the future and was handed a number of loans. This didn't ever bring regular first team recognition for the Greek youngster, though, and he has already continued his career elsewhere.

Signed from PAS Giannina in Wenger's final window, the central defender played just eight first-term games for Arsenal. A season on loan at Nurnberg followed, before Stuttgart borrowed him for two seasons.

Now 24, Mavropanos impressed enough in the Bundesliga to earn a permanent exit. Stuttgart will feel they've got a bargain at less than £3m, while the Gunners will hope they're not left wondering what might have been.

Sokratis

The second of Arsenal's Greek centre-backs, Sokratis joined in Unai Emery's first transfer window. He came with a solid reputation, having played nearly 200 times for Borussia Dortmund, and gave a reasonable account of himself in that first Emery season.

It didn't last, though. Despite scoring against Manchester United in Mikel Arteta's first win as Arsenal manager, he fell out of favour once Gabriel arrived from Lille the following summer.

Sokratis was still under contract at the start of the 2020-21 season but was left out of Arsenal's Premier League squad. He eventually had his contract terminated by mutual consent and has since returned to his home country for a spell with Olympiacos.

David Luiz

Twelve months after signing Sokratis, Emery added another two centre-backs to his squad. One was Saliba, who has yet to enjoy an extended run in the side, while the other was David Luiz.

The Brazil international arrived from Chelsea at the end of the summer transfer window and played the majority of league games under both Emery and Arteta. In the 2020-21 season he was involved a little less, but still made 20 league appearances with his experience benefiting a young squad.

Luiz was 34 when his Arsenal contract expired, and was allowed to move to Flamengo on a free. He could well be joined on the 'exits' pile by a former Flamengo man as well, with Pablo Mari out of favour and expected to become the next defender to be outlasted by the resilient Rob Holding.