In his quest to make a lasting impact at Crystal Palace, former Arsenal defender Rob Holding has identified Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny as the two ex-Gunners he aspires to emulate.
Holding, who recently made the move from the Emirates Stadium to Selhurst Park, expressed his desire to inspire his younger teammates at Crystal Palace in the same way Mertesacker and Koscielny once inspired him.
The 28-year-old completed his transfer deadline day switch, concluding a fruitful seven-year tenure with Arsenal in North London.
During his time at Arsenal, Holding had the privilege of captaining the team on several occasions and playing alongside esteemed figures and notable club captains such as Granit Xhaka, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and Martin Odegaard.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Holding remarked, “With my experience at 28 years old and considering Palace’s relatively young squad, which includes promising young talents, I hope to impart the wisdom I gained from my time at Arsenal. When I first entered the changing room and encountered leaders like Mertesacker and Koscielny, they left an indelible impression on me.”
He continued, “If I can pass on even a fraction of the invaluable knowledge they imparted to me, to the young lads at Palace, then I’ll be content with my contribution.”
