Arsenal blow as defender Rob Holding is set to miss start of 2019-20 season with ongoing knee injury Arsenal defender Rob Holding is expected to miss the start of next season The youngster is dealing with the serious knee injury he suffered in December Holding sustained a cruciate ligament injury against Manchester United Arsenal hope he could return to full training by the end of pre-seasonBy Sami Mokbel for the Daily Mail Published: 22:31 BST, 28 June 2019 | Updated: 23:34 BST, 28 June 2019 1 Viewcomments Arsenal defender Rob Holding is expected to miss the start of next season with the serious knee injury he suffered in December. Holding missed the final five months of last season after suffering a cruciate ligament injury against Manchester United. There was hope Holding may be ready for the start of Unai Emery's second season in charge - but the key defender is set to miss the opening weeks of the forthcoming campaign. Rob Holding is expected to miss the start of next season with ongoing knee issues However, it is hoped the centre half can return to full training before the end of Arsenal's pre-season programme which would come as a major boost to the club ahead of the new campaign. Holding established himself as a regular under Emery during the opening months of the Spaniard's fist season in charge. The Gunners didn't lose a single one of the 16 games the 23-year-old played in before his injury at Old Trafford on December 5. Arsenal will also be without first-choice right back Hector Bellerin for the start of the season His displays at the heart of Arsenal's defence pushed Holding into England manager Gareth Southgate's thoughts, and the former Bolton man will hope he can break into the senior international fold once he regains full fitness. Arsenal will also be without first-choice right back Hector Bellerin for the start of the season. The Spanish defender suffered his own cruciate ligament injury in January and will miss the opening weeks of next season as he continues his recovery. Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility