‘I was thinking of the headlines tomorrow!’

When Nicolas Pepe swung in an inviting cross midway through the second half at Anfield on Thursday night, Rob Holding thought his moment of glory had arrived.

Our centre back rose high but his firm header was saved by Adrian - although it didn’t cost us as we won the game on penalties.

 

“It was one of those where I saw it coming at me, it landed on my head and I was thinking the headlines tomorrow would be that Rob scored the winner!” Holding told Arsenal.com. “I just headed it too well and directly at the keeper. Maybe next time I'll get on the scoresheet.

 

“It's always nice to win here. It's very rare that it happens because they are such a good team and Monday night showed how difficult it is to come here and get a result. I'm happy to keep a clean sheet and if I'd have scored that header it would've been a nice win but we went to penalties and got the job done in the end.

 

“I think I was sixth [in line for a penalty] but then Joe said he felt good, so I said, 'Go on then'. Let the young lad have it!”

 

Holding reserved praise for Bernd Leno, who delivered a superb performance both in normal time and the shoot-out to help us reach the quarter finals.

 

“He saved us a couple of times and that's what we need,” he said. “It's nice having a great goalkeeper like that behind you who you know is going to help you out when you need him. Then obviously on the shoot-out he saved a few as well, it's a very good day for him.”