🔗 Share this article

One might forgive Oliver Glasner for preferring to enjoy a quiet period with his loved ones in Austria before Christmas, instead of preparing for Crystal Palace's 29th match of the season—a Carabao Cup quarter-final with Arsenal. Yet, the suggestion that Palace could prioritize other competitions was quickly dismissed by their boss.

"No, I don't think so," stated Glasner following his team's side's 4-1 defeat to Leeds. "If anyone tells me that we are defeated deliberately, the following day I'm no longer the manager anymore."

There exists a clear difference in Glasner's approach to cup tournaments compared to his forerunner, Roy Hodgson. This first was evident during Palace's run to the League Cup last eight in his debut full season in charge. Under Hodgson, the team had already been eliminated from both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup when Glasner assumed control at Selhurst Park. Conversely, Glasner fielded his first-choice lineup for victories over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, paving the way for a encounter with Arsenal.

That previous quarter-final tie concluded in a three-two loss at the Emirates Stadium, thanks to a somewhat debated hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having led at half-time. Almost exactly twelve months later, Glasner must devise a strategy for payback versus the current Premier League leaders in a fixture that was moved to this week because of European obligations.

The Cost of Success and Continental Exhaustion

Glasner has, in a sense, been a casualty of his own achievements. Leading Palace to their maiden major trophy with a win in the FA Cup final subsequently ushered in the rigors of European football for the first time. These pressures are catching up with several exhausted players, many of whom have hardly had a rest all term.

The coach selected an entirely different lineup, including four teenagers, in their last Conference League fixture. Yet, for the Arsenal game, he admitted he will have "little choice" but to pick the bulk of his preferred team, which appeared extremely lethargic as they unusually let in four goals from set-pieces versus Leeds. "Must. Yes, have to," he said.

Arsenal's Viewpoint and Selection Considerations

On Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the circumstances are distinct. The manager must balance 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 only days after their Carabao Cup fightback greatly harmed their title hopes.

Arteta had implemented several changes for that cup match but was forced to introduce his "key players" after the break. Saka was introduced from the bench to set up Jesus for a decisive goal in a move that left Glasner "incensed" over a potential offside, with no VAR in operation—a situation that will repeat again on Tuesday.

Arsenal have an eight-game unbeaten run against Palace, featuring seven wins. Gabriel Jesus, who netted a hat-trick in last season's League Cup meeting and a brace in a subsequent league win before suffering a serious knee injury, is expected to begin for the first time since that setback. Arteta revealed the striker wrote a "beautiful" letter to his teammates about what football signifies to him.

"We're used to it," commented Arteta on the congested fixture list. "I think this week was the only full week we had to get ready. The rest until February at least is going to be like this. We have a wonderful opportunity to go into the last four of a competition so we will be ready."

Amid key players coming back from injury and a determination to advance, Arsenal pose a daunting challenge for a Palace side desperately in need of rejuvenation as the holiday period intensifies.