Arsenal FC v PSV Eindhoven: Group A - UEFA Europa League — LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 20: Rob Holding of Arsenal celebrates after victory in the UEFA Europa League group A match between Arsenal FC and PSV Eindhoven at Emirates Stadium on October 20, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Former Gunner now training alone after manager talks

Sep 2, 2024

Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner has confirmed that former Gunner Rob Holding is training individually at the moment.

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 20: Arsenal FC player Rob Holding takes a selfie with a fan while on a tour of the U.S. Capitol Building on July 20, 2023 in Washington, DC. Members of the English Premier League team were led on a tour of the U.S. Capitol a day after playing a friendly football match against the Major League Soccer (MLS) All-Star team at Audi Field. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) — WASHINGTON, DC: Arsenal FC player Rob Holding takes a selfie with a fan while on a tour of the U.S. Capitol Building on July 20, 2023. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Former Arsenal defender Rob Holding is fit and available for Crystal Palace, making the matchday squad against West Ham United on August 24th.

Yet the centre-back has missed out on the other three of Palace’s four squads so far this season, and manager Oliver Glasner has now confirmed Holding is also training alone.

“Rob is training individually at the moment,” Glasner said. “We had a talk together and he knows the reason but it’s something that stays between Rob and me.”

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - APRIL 26: Rob Holding of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal FC at Etihad Stadium on April 26, 2023 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) — MANCHESTER, ENGLAND: Rob Holding of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal FC at Etihad Stadium on April 26, 2023. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Whilst we can only speculate at the exact reason why Holding is currently being kept apart from the rest of the Palace squad, it wouldn’t be too far-fetched to assume it has something to do with discontent around his minutes.

The 28-year-old has now spent a year with Palace, after joining from Arsenal on September 1st, 2023. But he’s only played 90 minutes in that time, one League Cup appearance against Manchester United.

Holding has made the Palace squad in the Premier League on 11 occasions, but he hasn’t featured on the pitch for them once.

Rob Holding during an Arsenal training session (Photo via Arsenal.com)

A summer move seemed like a likely outcome, but it didn’t happen, and Holding is now training alone. Unless a late bid comes in from a country whose transfer window is still open, Holding is set to extend his spell on the sidelines.

It’s far from an ideal situation for the defender, and he’ll hope it’s not one that lasts.