Glasner Seeks to Rally Fatigued Palace as Revenge Versus The Gunners Looms.

One might excuse Oliver Glasner for wishing to enjoy a restful period with his loved ones in Austria before Christmas, instead of preparing for Crystal Palace's 29th game of the season—a Carabao Cup last-eight clash with Arsenal. Yet, the suggestion that Palace could focus on other competitions was firmly rejected by their boss.

"No, I don't think so," remarked Glasner after his team's side's 4-1 defeat to Leeds. "Should somebody informs me that we lose deliberately, the following day I'm not the coach anymore."

There is a clear difference in Glasner's approach to domestic cup competitions versus his predecessor, Roy Hodgson. This first was evident during Palace's run to the League Cup quarter-finals in his first complete campaign in command. Under Hodgson, the team had previously been knocked out from each of the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup when Glasner assumed control at Selhurst Park. In contrast, Glasner selected his first-choice side for wins over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, paving the way for a showdown with Arsenal.

That previous last-eight tie ended in a three-two loss at the Emirates Stadium, due to a somewhat controversial hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, despite Palace having led at the interval. Now, Glasner must figure out a plan for payback versus the present Premier League pace-setters in a fixture that was moved to this week because of European obligations.

A Cost of Success and Continental Exhaustion

Glasner has, in a sense, been a casualty of his own achievements. Leading Palace to their first major trophy with a win in the FA Cup final subsequently ushered in the rigors of European football for the first time. These demands are taking a toll on some fatigued squad members, many of whom have hardly had a break all season.

The coach selected an entirely changed side, featuring four teenagers, in their last Conference League fixture. Yet, for the Arsenal clash, he conceded he will have "no option" but to pick the majority of his preferred team, which appeared decidedly jaded as they uncharacteristically conceded four goals from set-pieces versus Leeds. "Have to. Yes, must," he said.

The Gunners' Perspective and Selection Dilemmas

On Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the circumstances are different. The boss must juggle his desire to win a another major trophy with considerable pragmatism. The previous season, a hamstring injury to Bukayo Saka suffered in a league game against Palace just days after their Carabao Cup fightback significantly harmed their title hopes.

Arteta had made a number of changes for that League Cup tie but was forced to introduce his "key players" after the break. Saka came off the bench to set up Jesus for a crucial goal in a move that left Glasner "incensed" 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 unbeaten streak versus Palace, featuring seven wins. Gabriel Jesus, who scored a hat-trick in the previous campaign's League Cup encounter and two in a subsequent league win before suffering a serious knee injury, looks set to start for the first since that setback. Arteta revealed the forward wrote a "beautiful" letter to his teammates about what football means to him.

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

With key players coming back from injury and a determination to progress, Arsenal present a formidable test for a Crystal Palace side urgently in need of rejuvenation as the festive schedule intensifies.