Why former Arsenal star Rob Holding, 29, has been exiled to Crystal Palace U21 as ‘disagreement’ finally revealed
LEAVING Arsenal was a momentous decision for Rob Holding.
The versatile defender appeared embedded at the Emirates after seven years as a popular squad member, picking up two FA Cup winners’ medals.
But Crystal Palace pounced for £4million on Deadline Day in September 2023, giving Holding a three-year contract.
Doubts have since emerged over his value – as he’s made just one appearance for the Eagles.
But those queries have been eclipsed by a far bigger question – that of why manager Oliver Glasner has exiled him to Palace Under-21s.
Now tantalising details of an answer have surfaced – more than six weeks after the 29-year-old was forced to start training on his own.
Holding was even left out of joint photos of the Palace men’s and women’s first-team squads.
Austrian Glasner, who took charge at Selhurst Park in February 2024, was enigmatic when quizzed about the ex-Bolton star on September 1.
The former Wolfsburg and Eintracht Frankfurt chief, 50, said: “Rob is training individually at the moment.
“We will talk together – he knows the reason. But it is something that stays between Rob and me. Nothing public.”
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However, the BBC say insiders have revealed the incident behind the dispute.
It relates to the last occasion Holding was in Palace’s senior squad – a 2-0 home defeat to West Ham in the Prem on August 24.
Holding never made it off the bench that afternoon, and hasn’t made it ON to it since.
That’s reportedly because he had a “disagreement” over a running session held after the final whistle of the home London derby.
The Beeb believe Holding has “accepted” being frozen out following that exchange and will keep training “professionally”.
But there is no sign of a resolution on the horizon
And with England’s Marc Guehi leading a sizeable batch of talented centre-backs at Selhurst Park, any hope Holding has of resurrecting his first-team career go beyond his issues with Glasner.