Rob Holding’s departure from Arsenal to Crystal Palace came as a surprise to him, after a seven-year tenure at Arsenal where he played 162 matches and won two FA Cups. Now at Crystal Palace, he’s eager to emulate two former Arsenal icons and inspire his younger teammates at Selhurst Park. Holding, at 28 years old, brings a wealth of experience to the relatively youthful Palace squad, aiming to provide leadership and guidance.
The two Arsenal captains he seeks to emulate are Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny. Holding, having played alongside them during his time at Arsenal, admires their leadership qualities and hopes to impart their influence on the younger players at Palace. He emphasizes the importance of passing on the wisdom and leadership he absorbed from Mertesacker and Koscielny to the budding talents at his new club.
Crystal Palace, despite being perceived as a younger team, actually has a starting lineup with an average age just over 27, making them the joint-third oldest in the Premier League, alongside Newcastle and trailing behind Fulham and West Ham. Despite this, they have emerging talents like Eberechi Eze, Marc Guehi, and Michael Olise, who can benefit from Holding’s mentorship.
Per Mertesacker became Arsenal’s captain when Holding joined the club, succeeding the retiring Mikel Arteta. He is currently the Academy Manager at Arsenal. On the other hand, Laurent Koscielny took on the captaincy after Mertesacker’s retirement in 2018 but departed in contentious circumstances to join Bordeaux, ultimately retiring in 2022.
Although Holding has only made one appearance for Palace so far, he remains optimistic about making his league debut and contributing to his new team’s success, potentially in the upcoming match against Newcastle. His goal is to draw from his Arsenal experience and the mentorship of Mertesacker and Koscielny to help guide and inspire the rising stars at Crystal Palace.
