🔗 Share this article

You could excuse Oliver Glasner for wishing to spend a quiet period with his loved ones in Austria ahead of Christmas, instead of preparing for Crystal Palace's 29th match of the season—a League Cup last-eight clash against Arsenal. Yet, the idea that Palace might focus on other competitions was quickly dismissed by their manager.

"No, I don't think so," stated Glasner after his team's side's 4-1 hammering to Leeds. "If anyone informs me that we lose on purpose, the following day I'm not the manager anymore."

There is a marked contrast in Glasner's approach to domestic cup tournaments compared to his predecessor, Roy Hodgson. This first was evident during Palace's run to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals in his first complete campaign in charge. Under Hodgson, the club 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 selected his strongest side for victories over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, paving the way for a showdown with Arsenal.

That prior quarter-final match concluded in a three-two loss at the Emirates Stadium, thanks to a slightly debated hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having led at the interval. Almost exactly twelve months later, Glasner must figure out a strategy for payback against the current Premier League pace-setters in a fixture that was moved to this week owing to European obligations.

The Cost of Success and European Fatigue

Glasner has, in a way, been a victim of his own achievements. Guiding Palace to their maiden major trophy with victory in the FA Cup final has ushered in the challenges of continental football for the very first time. These pressures are taking a toll on some fatigued players, many of whom have hardly enjoyed a rest all term.

The coach selected an completely different side, featuring four youngsters, in their final Conference League match. However, ahead of the Arsenal game, he conceded he will have "no option" but to choose the bulk of his first-choice team, which looked decidedly lethargic as they unusually let in four goals from set-pieces against Leeds. "Have to. Yes, must," he affirmed.

Arsenal's Perspective and Selection Dilemmas

On Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the situation are different. The boss must juggle his desire to win a second major trophy with considerable practicality. Last year, a muscle injury to Bukayo Saka suffered in a league game versus Palace just days after their Carabao Cup comeback greatly harmed their title hopes.

Arteta had made several changes for that League Cup match but was forced to bring on his "big-hitters" after the break. Saka came off the bench to set up Jesus for a crucial goal in a move that left Glasner "furious" over a potential offside, with no VAR in operation—a situation that will be the case again on Tuesday.

Arsenal are on an eight-game winning run against Palace, including seven wins. Gabriel Jesus, who scored a hat-trick in last season's League Cup meeting and two in a later league win before sustaining 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 means to him.

"We are accustomed to it," said Arteta on the congested fixture list. "In my view this week was the sole complete week we had to prepare. The rest until February at least is will be like this. We have a beautiful chance to go into the last four of a tournament so we will be prepared."

Amid important players returning from injury and a desire to progress, Arsenal pose a daunting challenge for a Palace side desperately in need of rejuvenation as the festive schedule ramps up.