🔗 Share this article

One might forgive Oliver Glasner for preferring to enjoy a quiet few days with his family in Austria before Christmas, rather than preparing for Crystal Palace's 29th fixture of the campaign—a League Cup quarter-final against Arsenal. However, the notion that Palace could prioritize other tournaments was quickly rejected by their boss.

"Absolutely not, I don't think so," stated Glasner following his team's side's four-one defeat to Leeds. "Should somebody informs me that we are defeated deliberately, the next day I'm no longer the coach anymore."

There exists a marked difference in Glasner's approach to domestic cup tournaments versus his predecessor, Roy Hodgson. This first was evident during Palace's run to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals in his first full season in command. Under Hodgson, the club had already been knocked out from both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup by the time Glasner took over at Selhurst Park. Conversely, Glasner fielded his best lineup for victories over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, paving the way for a encounter with Arsenal.

That previous quarter-final tie ended in a three-two loss at the Emirates Stadium, thanks to a rather debated hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having been ahead at half-time. Almost exactly twelve months later, Glasner now faces the task to figure out a strategy for revenge against the current Premier League leaders in a fixture that was rescheduled to this week owing to European commitments.

The Cost of Achievement and Continental Exhaustion

Glasner has, in a way, been a casualty of his own success. Leading Palace to their maiden major trophy with a win in the FA Cup final has ushered in the demands of European football for the first time. These pressures are taking a toll on some weary squad members, many of whom have barely had a rest all term.

The coach fielded an completely different side, including four teenagers, in their final Conference League fixture. However, ahead of the Arsenal game, he conceded he will have "no option" but to pick the bulk of his preferred side, which appeared decidedly lethargic as they uncharacteristically conceded four goals from set-pieces against Leeds. "Have to. Yes, must," he said.

The Gunners' Perspective and Team Dilemmas

For Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the situation are distinct. The boss must juggle his desire to win a another major trophy with extreme practicality. The previous season, a hamstring injury to Bukayo Saka suffered in a league game versus Palace just days after their Carabao Cup fightback greatly damaged their title hopes.

Arteta had implemented a number of changes for that cup tie but was compelled to bring on his "key players" after the break. Saka was introduced from the bench to assist Jesus for a decisive goal in a move that left Glasner "incensed" over a potential offside, with no VAR in operation—a scenario that will be the case again on Tuesday.

Arsenal are on an eight-game unbeaten streak versus Palace, featuring seven wins. Gabriel Jesus, who netted a hat-trick in last season's League Cup encounter and a brace in a later league win before suffering a long-term knee injury, looks set to begin for the first time since then injury. 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 busy schedule. "In my view this week was the sole full week we had to get ready. The rest until February at least is going to be like this. We have a beautiful chance to go into the last four of a competition so we will be prepared."

Amid key players coming back from injury and a determination to advance, Arsenal present a daunting challenge for a Palace side desperately in need of rejuvenation as the festive schedule ramps up.