🔗 Share this article

One might forgive Oliver Glasner for wishing to enjoy a quiet period with his loved ones in Austria ahead of Christmas, instead of gearing up for Crystal Palace's twenty-ninth match of the campaign—a League Cup last-eight clash against Arsenal. However, the notion that Palace might focus on other competitions was swiftly dismissed by their boss.

"Absolutely not, I do not believe that," declared Glasner after his team's side's four-one defeat to Leeds. "Should somebody informs me that we are defeated deliberately, the next day I'm not the coach anymore."

There is a marked difference in Glasner's approach to domestic cup competitions relative to his predecessor, Roy Hodgson. This first became clear during Palace's run to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals in his debut full season in command. Under Hodgson, the team had previously been eliminated from each of the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup by the time Glasner assumed control at Selhurst Park. In contrast, Glasner picked his first-choice lineup for wins over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, paving the way for a encounter with Arsenal.

That previous last-eight match ended in a three-two loss at the Emirates Stadium, thanks to a rather controversial hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, despite Palace having led at the interval. Almost exactly twelve months later, Glasner now faces the task to figure out a plan for revenge against the present Premier League pace-setters in a fixture that was moved to this week owing to European commitments.

A Price of Achievement and European Fatigue

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

The coach fielded an entirely different lineup, featuring four teenagers, in their last Conference League match. Yet, for the Arsenal clash, he admitted he will have "little choice" but to select the majority of his preferred team, which appeared decidedly jaded as they uncharacteristically let in four goals from set-pieces against Leeds. "Must. Yes, must," he stated.

Arsenal's Perspective and Selection Considerations

On Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the circumstances are different. The boss must juggle his desire to win a second major trophy with extreme pragmatism. Last year, a hamstring injury to Bukayo Saka suffered in a league game versus Palace just days after their Carabao Cup fightback significantly damaged their title hopes.

Arteta had implemented a number of changes for that cup tie but was compelled to introduce his "key players" after 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 possible offside, with no VAR in operation—a scenario that will repeat again on Tuesday.

Arsenal are on an eight-game winning streak versus Palace, featuring seven wins. Gabriel Jesus, who netted a hat-trick in last season's League Cup encounter and two in a later league win before sustaining a long-term knee injury, is expected to begin for the first since that injury. Arteta disclosed the forward wrote a "touching" letter to his teammates about what football means to him.

"We are used to it," commented Arteta on the congested schedule. "I think this week was the only complete week we had to get ready. The period until February at least is going to be like this. We have a beautiful opportunity to go into the semi-final of a competition so we will be ready."

Amid 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 rejuvenation as the festive schedule intensifies.