🔗 Share this article

One might excuse Oliver Glasner for preferring to enjoy a restful few days with his family in Austria before Christmas, instead of gearing up for Crystal Palace's twenty-ninth fixture of the campaign—a Carabao Cup quarter-final against Arsenal. Yet, the suggestion that Palace could focus on other tournaments was swiftly rejected by their boss.

"Absolutely not, I do not believe that," declared Glasner following his team's side's four-one hammering to Leeds. "Should anyone informs me that we are defeated deliberately, the following day I'm no longer the coach anymore."

There is a stark contrast in Glasner's approach to cup competitions compared to 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 knocked out from both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup when Glasner assumed control at Selhurst Park. Conversely, Glasner fielded his first-choice team for wins over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, paving the way for a encounter with Arsenal.

That previous last-eight match 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 now faces the task to figure out a strategy for revenge against the present Premier League pace-setters in a match that was rescheduled to this week owing to European commitments.

The Cost of Success and Continental Exhaustion

Glasner has, in a way, been a victim of his own success. Leading Palace to their maiden major trophy with a win in the FA Cup final has ushered in the rigors of continental football for the very first time. These pressures are taking a toll on several weary squad members, many of whom have hardly had a rest all season.

The manager selected an entirely changed side, featuring four teenagers, in their final Conference League match. However, ahead of the Arsenal clash, he conceded he will have "no option" but to choose the bulk of his preferred team, which appeared decidedly jaded as they uncharacteristically let in four goals from set-pieces against Leeds. "Must. Yes, have to," he stated.

The Gunners' Perspective and Selection Considerations

For Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the circumstances are different. The boss must balance his ambition to win a another major trophy with extreme practicality. Last year, a muscle injury to Bukayo Saka suffered in a league game versus Palace just days after their Carabao Cup comeback greatly damaged their title aspirations.

Arteta had made a number of changes for that League Cup tie but was compelled to bring on his "key players" following the break. Saka was introduced from the bench to assist Jesus for a crucial goal in a passage of play that left Glasner "incensed" over a possible offside, with no VAR in operation—a situation that will repeat again on Tuesday.

Arsenal have an eight-match unbeaten run versus Palace, including seven wins. Gabriel Jesus, who scored a hat-trick in last season's League Cup meeting and two in a subsequent league win before suffering a long-term knee injury, is expected to begin for the first time since that setback. Arteta disclosed the striker wrote a "touching" letter to his teammates about what football signifies to him.

"We are used to it," commented Arteta on the busy fixture list. "In my view this week was the sole full week we had to get ready. The rest until February at least is will be like this. We have a wonderful chance to go into the semi-final of a tournament so we will be ready."

Amid key players returning from injury and a desire to advance, Arsenal present a daunting test for a Crystal Palace side urgently in need of a spark as the festive schedule intensifies.