One might forgive Oliver Glasner for preferring to spend a restful few days with his family in Austria before Christmas, rather than gearing up for Crystal Palace's 29th game of the campaign—a Carabao Cup last-eight clash with Arsenal. However, the suggestion that Palace could focus on other competitions was firmly rejected by their head coach.
"Absolutely not, I don't think so," declared Glasner after his team's side's four-one defeat to Leeds. "Should anyone informs me that we lose on purpose, the following day I'm not the manager any more."
There is a stark difference in Glasner's philosophy to cup tournaments relative to his forerunner, Roy Hodgson. This initially became clear during Palace's journey to the League Cup quarter-finals in his first full season in charge. Under Hodgson, the team had previously been knocked out from both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup when Glasner assumed control at Selhurst Park. Conversely, Glasner selected his best lineup for wins over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, paving the way for a encounter with Arsenal.
That previous last-eight tie concluded in a three-two defeat at the Emirates Stadium, due to a somewhat controversial hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having been ahead at half-time. Almost exactly twelve months later, Glasner must devise a strategy for revenge versus the present Premier League leaders in a match that was moved to this week owing to European obligations.
Glasner has, in a way, been a casualty of his own success. Guiding Palace to their maiden major trophy with victory in the FA Cup final subsequently brought the demands of continental football for the very first time. These pressures are catching up with several fatigued squad members, many of whom have hardly had a rest all season.
The manager selected an entirely different lineup, including four teenagers, in their last Conference League match. However, for the Arsenal game, he conceded he will have "no option" but to select the majority of his first-choice team, which appeared decidedly lethargic as they uncharacteristically let in four goals from set-pieces against Leeds. "Must. Yes, have to," he stated.
For Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the circumstances are different. The manager must juggle his ambition 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 damaged their title aspirations.
Arteta had implemented a number of changes for that League Cup match but was forced to introduce his "key players" following the break. Saka was introduced from the bench to set up Jesus for a crucial goal in a move that left Glasner "incensed" over a potential offside, with no VAR available—a scenario that will repeat again on Tuesday.
Arsenal have an eight-match winning streak versus Palace, including seven victories. Gabriel Jesus, who scored a hat-trick in last season's League Cup meeting and a brace in a later league win before suffering a serious knee injury, looks set to start for the first time since then setback. Arteta revealed the forward wrote a "touching" letter to his teammates about what football signifies to him.
"We're used to it," commented Arteta on the busy fixture list. "I think this week was the only full week we had to prepare. The period until February at least is will be like this. We have a beautiful opportunity to go into the semi-final of a tournament so we will be prepared."
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 festive schedule ramps up.
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