🔗 Share this article

You could forgive Oliver Glasner for wishing to spend a restful few days with his family in Austria before Christmas, rather than gearing up for Crystal Palace's twenty-ninth fixture of the campaign—a League Cup quarter-final with Arsenal. However, the idea that Palace could prioritize other tournaments was swiftly rejected by their manager.

"No, I don't think so," remarked Glasner following his team's side's 4-1 defeat to Leeds. "Should somebody informs me that we are defeated on purpose, the following day I'm not the manager any more."

There is a stark contrast in Glasner's philosophy to cup competitions relative 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 command. Under Hodgson, the club had previously been eliminated from both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup when Glasner assumed control at Selhurst Park. Conversely, Glasner picked his best team for victories 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 slightly controversial hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having led at half-time. Now, Glasner must devise a strategy for payback against the current Premier League pace-setters in a fixture that was moved to this week owing to European obligations.

A Cost of Success and Continental Fatigue

Glasner has, in a way, been a victim of his own success. Guiding Palace to their maiden major trophy with a win in the FA Cup final subsequently brought the challenges of continental football for the very first time. These demands are catching up with some weary players, many of whom have barely enjoyed a rest all term.

The manager fielded an completely different lineup, including four youngsters, in their final Conference League fixture. However, ahead of the Arsenal clash, he admitted he will have "little choice" but to pick the bulk of his preferred team, which appeared decidedly lethargic as they uncharacteristically let in four goals from set-pieces versus Leeds. "Have to. Yes, must," he said.

Arsenal's Perspective and Team Dilemmas

On Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the circumstances are different. The boss must balance his desire to win a another major trophy with extreme pragmatism. Last year, a muscle injury to Bukayo Saka sustained in a league game against Palace just days after their Carabao Cup fightback significantly harmed their title aspirations.

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

Arsenal are on an eight-match unbeaten streak against Palace, featuring seven wins. Gabriel Jesus, who netted a hat-trick in last season's League Cup encounter and two in a subsequent league win before suffering a long-term knee injury, is expected to start for the first time since then setback. Arteta disclosed the striker wrote a "touching" letter to his teammates about what football signifies to him.

"We are accustomed to it," commented Arteta on the congested schedule. "In my view this week was the sole complete week we had to get ready. The rest until February at least is will be like this. We have a beautiful chance 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 pose a daunting challenge for a Crystal Palace side desperately in need of rejuvenation as the holiday period ramps up.