🔗 Share this article

You could forgive Oliver Glasner for wishing to enjoy a restful period with his loved ones in Austria ahead of Christmas, rather than gearing up for Crystal Palace's twenty-ninth match of the campaign—a League Cup last-eight clash with Arsenal. However, the suggestion that Palace could prioritize other competitions was firmly dismissed by their head coach.

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

There exists a stark difference in Glasner's philosophy to domestic cup tournaments relative to his forerunner, Roy Hodgson. This first became clear during Palace's journey to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals in his debut complete campaign in command. Under Hodgson, the team had already been knocked out from each of the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup by the time Glasner took over at Selhurst Park. Conversely, Glasner fielded his first-choice team for wins over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, setting up a meeting with Arsenal.

That previous quarter-final tie concluded in a 3-2 defeat at the Emirates Stadium, following a rather controversial hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having been ahead at half-time. Now, Glasner now faces the task to figure out a plan for payback against the present Premier League leaders in a fixture that was rescheduled to this week because of European obligations.

The Cost of Achievement and Continental Fatigue

Glasner has, in a way, been a casualty of his own achievements. Leading Palace to their maiden major trophy with a win in the FA Cup final has brought the challenges of European football for the very first time. These demands are taking a toll on several fatigued squad members, many of whom have barely enjoyed a rest all season.

The coach deployed an completely changed lineup, including four youngsters, in their final Conference League match. Yet, for the Arsenal clash, he admitted he will have "little choice" but to pick the majority of his preferred team, which looked extremely jaded as they unusually conceded four goals from set-pieces against Leeds. "Must. Yes, have to," he said.

The Gunners' Perspective and Team Dilemmas

On Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the situation are distinct. The boss must juggle his desire to win a second 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 significantly damaged their title hopes.

Arteta had implemented several changes for that cup match but was forced to bring on his "key players" after the break. Saka came off 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 available—a scenario that will repeat again on Tuesday.

Arsenal have an eight-match unbeaten run versus Palace, including seven victories. Gabriel Jesus, who netted a hat-trick in the previous campaign's League Cup encounter and two in a later league win before suffering a serious knee injury, is expected to start for the first since then setback. Arteta revealed the forward wrote a "touching" letter to his teammates about what football signifies to him.

"We are used to it," commented Arteta on the congested schedule. "In my view this week was the only complete week we had to prepare. The rest until February at least is going to be like this. We have a wonderful opportunity to go into the semi-final of a competition so we will be prepared."

With important players returning from injury and a desire to progress, Arsenal present a daunting test for a Palace side desperately in need of rejuvenation as the holiday period intensifies.