🔗 Share this article

One might excuse Oliver Glasner for preferring to spend a restful few days with his family in Austria before Christmas, instead of preparing for Crystal Palace's 29th game of the campaign—a Carabao Cup last-eight clash against Arsenal. However, the idea that Palace might focus on other competitions was swiftly rejected by their boss.

"Absolutely not, I do not believe that," remarked Glasner following his team's side's 4-1 defeat to Leeds. "Should anyone tells me that we lose deliberately, the following day I'm no longer the coach anymore."

There exists a clear contrast in Glasner's philosophy to domestic cup competitions versus his predecessor, Roy Hodgson. This initially became clear during Palace's journey to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals in his debut full season in charge. Under Hodgson, the team had previously been eliminated from each of the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup when Glasner assumed control at Selhurst Park. Conversely, Glasner picked his strongest lineup for victories over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, paving the way for a encounter with Arsenal.

That previous last-eight tie ended in a 3-2 loss at the Emirates Stadium, following a slightly debated hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having led at the interval. Almost exactly twelve months later, Glasner must devise a strategy for revenge against the present Premier League leaders in a match that was rescheduled to this week owing to European obligations.

The Cost of Achievement and Continental Fatigue

Glasner has, in a way, been a victim of his own achievements. Leading Palace to their maiden major trophy with victory in the FA Cup final has ushered in the rigors of European football for the very first time. These demands are catching up with several weary players, many of whom have barely had a break all season.

The coach fielded an entirely changed side, including four teenagers, in their last Conference League match. However, ahead of the Arsenal game, he conceded he will have "little choice" but to select the majority of his preferred side, which looked decidedly lethargic as they uncharacteristically let in four goals from set-pieces against Leeds. "Must. Yes, must," he affirmed.

Arsenal's Perspective and Selection Considerations

For Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the circumstances are different. The manager must juggle his ambition to win a another major trophy with extreme pragmatism. Last year, a hamstring injury to Bukayo Saka suffered in a league game versus Palace only days after their Carabao Cup comeback greatly harmed their title aspirations.

Arteta had implemented several changes for that League Cup match but was compelled to introduce his "key players" following the break. Saka was introduced from the bench to set up Jesus for a decisive goal in a move 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 run versus Palace, featuring seven wins. Gabriel Jesus, who scored a hat-trick in the previous campaign's League Cup meeting and two in a later league win before sustaining a serious knee injury, is expected to begin for the first time since that setback. Arteta revealed the striker wrote a "beautiful" letter to his teammates about what football means to him.

"We are accustomed to it," commented Arteta on the busy schedule. "I think this week was the only full week we had to prepare. The rest until February at least is going to be like this. We have a wonderful chance to go into the last four of a competition so we will be ready."

Amid important 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 schedule ramps up.