🔗 Share this article

One might excuse Oliver Glasner for preferring to enjoy a restful period with his family in Austria ahead of Christmas, instead of preparing for Crystal Palace's 29th match of the campaign—a League Cup last-eight clash against Arsenal. Yet, the idea that Palace might prioritize other tournaments was quickly dismissed by their boss.

"Absolutely not, I don't think so," declared Glasner following his team's side's 4-1 hammering to Leeds. "If anyone tells me that we are defeated on purpose, the following day I'm no longer the coach any more."

There exists a clear contrast in Glasner's approach to domestic cup competitions relative to his forerunner, Roy Hodgson. This initially was evident during Palace's run to the League Cup last eight in his debut full season in charge. Under Hodgson, the club had previously been eliminated from both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup when Glasner took over at Selhurst Park. Conversely, Glasner selected his best team for victories over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, setting up a meeting with Arsenal.

That previous quarter-final tie ended in a 3-2 loss at the Emirates Stadium, following a somewhat controversial hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having led at half-time. Now, Glasner must devise a strategy for revenge versus the current Premier League leaders in a fixture that was moved to this week because of European obligations.

A Price of Success and Continental Fatigue

Glasner has, in a sense, been a casualty of his own success. Guiding Palace to their first major trophy with a win in the FA Cup final subsequently brought the challenges of continental football for the first time. These pressures are catching up with some weary squad members, many of whom have hardly had a break all term.

The coach selected an completely different side, including four youngsters, in their final Conference League fixture. However, for the Arsenal game, he conceded he will have "no option" but to select the majority of his preferred side, which looked extremely lethargic as they unusually conceded four goals from set-pieces versus Leeds. "Must. Yes, must," he stated.

Arsenal's Perspective and Selection Dilemmas

On Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the circumstances are distinct. The manager must balance his desire to win a another major trophy with considerable practicality. Last year, a hamstring injury to Bukayo Saka suffered in a league game against Palace only days after their Carabao Cup fightback greatly harmed their title aspirations.

Arteta had implemented a number of changes for that cup tie but was compelled to introduce his "key players" following the break. Saka came off the bench to assist Jesus for a crucial goal in a passage of play that left Glasner "incensed" over a potential offside, with no VAR in operation—a scenario that will be the case again on Tuesday.

Arsenal are on an eight-game winning streak against Palace, featuring seven wins. Gabriel Jesus, who scored a hat-trick in the previous campaign's League Cup encounter and two in a subsequent league win before sustaining a serious knee injury, is expected to start for the first time since that injury. Arteta disclosed the forward wrote a "touching" letter to his teammates about what football means to him.

"We are accustomed to it," commented Arteta on the congested fixture list. "In my view this week was the sole complete week we had to get ready. The period until February at least is will be similar. We have a beautiful chance to go into the last four of a competition so we will be prepared."

With key players coming back from injury and a desire to advance, Arsenal pose a formidable test for a Crystal Palace side desperately in need of a spark as the festive schedule intensifies.