Ex-Arsenal star takes drastic action after being frozen out by his manager

Rob Holding has purged his Instagram of Crystal Palace content after being sidelined at the club. The former Arsenal defender, who switched to Palace last summer, has seen limited action and has featured just once for the first team in a 3-0 Carabao Cup defeat by Manchester United.

Despite making the bench for Palace’s 2-0 loss to West Ham last month, Holding was conspicuously absent from the squad for their Chelsea match.

Palace manager Oliver Glasner has confirmed that Holding is not injured but is training solo, opting to keep the reasons under wraps. “Rob is training individually at the moment,” said Glasner.

“We will talk together he knows the reason. But it is something that stays between Rob and me. Nothing public.”

After the arrivals of Chadi Riad, Maxence Lacroix, and Trevoh Chalobah this summer, Holding’s chances have dwindled further, leading him to unfollow the club on Instagram and remove all but one related post.

Despite a rocky start to the season, Glasner remains optimistic, especially after securing their first point in a draw against Chelsea before the international break.

“An absolutely positive point with all the circumstances, coming here after two defeats in the Premier League,” he commented.

“Just 14 players from our squad were available because of injuries or new players who couldn’t play today, and there were four from the Under-21s. Coming here, being one goal down at half-time was deserved, to be honest.

“But then coming back after one or two adaptions at half-time, with the spirit, with the belief, with the togetherness, I’m really delighted with the performance today. The first half, we didn’t find the opportunities where they are.

“In the second half, we did it much better. We were in very good shape so they didn’t find space. We knew they won’t always want to play in our pocket, it was once or twice. Then we struggled a little bit, but overall we did a really great job.

“But then coming back after one or two adaptions at half-time, with the spirit, with the belief, with the togetherness, I’m really delighted with the performance today. The first half, we didn’t find the opportunities where they are.”