🔗 Share this article

You could forgive Oliver Glasner for preferring to spend a restful period with his family in Austria before Christmas, rather than gearing up for Crystal Palace's 29th fixture of the campaign—a League Cup last-eight clash with Arsenal. Yet, the suggestion that Palace could prioritize other tournaments was quickly dismissed by their head coach.

"Absolutely not, I do not believe that," declared Glasner after his team's side's four-one defeat to Leeds. "If somebody informs me that we lose on purpose, the next day I'm not the manager any more."

There is a clear contrast in Glasner's approach to cup tournaments compared to his forerunner, Roy Hodgson. This first became clear during Palace's journey to the League Cup quarter-finals in his debut complete campaign in command. Under Hodgson, the team had previously been knocked out from both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup by the time Glasner took over at Selhurst Park. Conversely, Glasner picked his best lineup for victories over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, setting up a encounter with Arsenal.

That previous quarter-final tie ended in a three-two loss at the Emirates Stadium, thanks to a somewhat debated hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, despite Palace having been ahead at half-time. Almost exactly twelve months later, Glasner must figure out a plan for revenge against the current Premier League leaders in a match that was rescheduled to this week because of European commitments.

A Price of Success and Continental Exhaustion

Glasner has, in a way, been a casualty of his own achievements. Guiding Palace to their maiden major trophy with victory in the FA Cup final has ushered in the demands of European football for the very first time. These pressures are catching up with some weary players, many of whom have hardly enjoyed a break all season.

The coach deployed an entirely different lineup, including four teenagers, in their last Conference League match. However, ahead of the Arsenal game, he conceded he will have "no option" but to choose the bulk of his preferred team, which appeared extremely jaded as they unusually let in four goals from set-pieces against Leeds. "Have to. Yes, must," he stated.

The Gunners' Viewpoint and Selection Considerations

For Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the situation are distinct. The manager must balance his ambition to win a second major trophy with considerable pragmatism. The previous season, a muscle injury to Bukayo Saka sustained in a league game versus Palace just days after their Carabao Cup fightback greatly damaged their title aspirations.

Arteta had implemented a number of changes for that League Cup tie but was compelled to bring on his "big-hitters" after the break. Saka was introduced from the bench to assist Jesus for a decisive goal in a passage of play that left Glasner "furious" over a potential offside, with no VAR in operation—a situation that will be the case again on Tuesday.

Arsenal have an eight-game unbeaten streak against Palace, featuring seven victories. Gabriel Jesus, who netted a hat-trick in the previous campaign's League Cup meeting and a brace in a subsequent league win before sustaining a long-term knee injury, is expected to begin for the first time since then setback. Arteta revealed the forward wrote a "touching" letter to his teammates about what football means to him.

"We're accustomed to it," said Arteta on the congested schedule. "I think 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 wonderful opportunity to go into the last four of a competition so we will be ready."

Amid key players coming back from injury and a determination to advance, Arsenal present a formidable test for a Crystal Palace side desperately in need of a spark as the holiday period intensifies.