🔗 Share this article

One might excuse Oliver Glasner for wishing to enjoy a restful period with his loved ones in Austria ahead of Christmas, rather than preparing for Crystal Palace's 29th fixture of the season—a Carabao Cup last-eight clash against Arsenal. Yet, the idea that Palace might prioritize other tournaments was swiftly 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. "Should anyone tells me that we lose deliberately, the next day I'm no longer the coach anymore."

There exists a marked contrast in Glasner's approach to domestic cup competitions relative to his predecessor, Roy Hodgson. This initially became clear during Palace's run to the League Cup last eight in his debut full season in command. Under Hodgson, the club had previously been eliminated from each of the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup by the time Glasner took over at Selhurst Park. Conversely, Glasner picked his best lineup for wins over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, setting up a meeting with Arsenal.

That prior last-eight tie ended in a three-two defeat at the Emirates Stadium, following a slightly controversial hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having been ahead at the interval. Now, Glasner must devise a plan for payback against the current Premier League pace-setters in a match that was moved to this week owing to European obligations.

The Price of Success and Continental Exhaustion

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 ushered in the demands of European football for the very first time. These pressures are taking a toll on several exhausted squad members, many of whom have barely had a rest all season.

The coach selected an completely different side, including four teenagers, in their last Conference League fixture. However, for the Arsenal clash, he admitted he will have "no option" but to pick the majority of his preferred side, which looked decidedly jaded as they unusually let in four goals from set-pieces versus Leeds. "Must. Yes, have to," he affirmed.

Arsenal's Viewpoint and Selection Considerations

On Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the situation are different. The manager must juggle his ambition to win a another major trophy with considerable pragmatism. The previous season, a hamstring injury to Bukayo Saka suffered in a league game against Palace only days after their Carabao Cup fightback greatly harmed their title hopes.

Arteta had made a number of changes for that cup tie but was forced to introduce his "big-hitters" after the break. Saka was introduced from the bench to set up Jesus for a crucial goal in a passage of play that left Glasner "furious" over a possible offside, with no VAR in operation—a scenario that will repeat again on Tuesday.

Arsenal are on an eight-match unbeaten run versus Palace, featuring seven wins. Gabriel Jesus, who netted a hat-trick in last season's League Cup meeting and two in a later league win before suffering a long-term knee injury, looks set to start for the first since then injury. Arteta revealed the forward wrote a "beautiful" letter to his teammates about what football means to him.

"We're used to it," commented Arteta on the busy schedule. "I think this week was the only complete week we had to get ready. The rest until February at least is will be similar. We have a wonderful chance to go into the last four of a competition so we will be prepared."

Amid important players coming back from injury and a desire to advance, Arsenal pose a formidable test for a Palace side urgently in need of a spark as the holiday schedule ramps up.