🔗 Share this article

You could forgive Oliver Glasner for preferring to enjoy a restful few days with his loved ones in Austria before Christmas, rather than preparing for Crystal Palace's twenty-ninth game of the campaign—a Carabao Cup last-eight clash with Arsenal. Yet, the idea that Palace could prioritize other competitions was firmly dismissed by their head coach.

"No, I do not believe that," stated Glasner following his team's side's 4-1 loss to Leeds. "If anyone informs me that we lose on purpose, the following day I'm not the manager any more."

There exists a clear contrast in Glasner's strategy to domestic cup competitions versus his forerunner, Roy Hodgson. This initially was evident during Palace's journey to the League Cup last eight in his first complete campaign in command. Under Hodgson, the club had already been eliminated from both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup by the time Glasner took over at Selhurst Park. Conversely, Glasner selected his strongest side for wins over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, paving the way for a encounter with Arsenal.

That prior last-eight tie concluded in a three-two loss at the Emirates Stadium, following a slightly debated hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having been ahead at the interval. Almost exactly twelve months later, Glasner must figure out a plan for revenge versus the current Premier League leaders in a match that was rescheduled to this week because of European obligations.

A Cost of Success and Continental Fatigue

Glasner has, in a way, been a casualty of his own success. Leading Palace to their first major trophy with a win in the FA Cup final subsequently brought the demands of European football for the very first time. These pressures are catching up with some exhausted squad members, many of whom have hardly enjoyed a rest all season.

The coach fielded an entirely changed side, including four youngsters, in their last Conference League match. Yet, for the Arsenal game, he admitted he will have "little choice" but to choose the majority of his first-choice side, which looked decidedly lethargic as they unusually let in four goals from set-pieces against Leeds. "Must. Yes, must," he affirmed.

Arsenal's Perspective and Team Considerations

For Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the circumstances are different. The boss must juggle his desire to win a second major trophy with considerable practicality. The previous season, a muscle injury to Bukayo Saka sustained in a league game against Palace just days after their Carabao Cup comeback significantly damaged their title aspirations.

Arteta had made a number of changes for that League Cup tie but was forced to bring on his "key players" following the break. Saka came off the bench to set up Jesus for a decisive goal in a passage of play that left Glasner "incensed" over a potential offside, with no VAR available—a situation that will be the case again on Tuesday.

Arsenal are on an eight-match unbeaten run versus Palace, featuring seven victories. Gabriel Jesus, who netted a hat-trick in the previous campaign's League Cup encounter and a brace in a later league win before sustaining a serious knee injury, is expected to start for the first time since then injury. Arteta disclosed the forward wrote a "touching" letter to his teammates about what football signifies to him.

"We're used to it," said Arteta on the busy fixture list. "In my view this week was the only complete week we had to get ready. The rest until February at least is going to be similar. We have a beautiful opportunity to go into the semi-final of a competition so we will be prepared."

With key players returning from injury and a desire to advance, Arsenal pose a formidable test for a Palace side urgently in need of rejuvenation as the holiday period ramps up.