Glasner Aims to Rally Jaded Palace as Payback Against The Gunners Looms.

You could excuse Oliver Glasner for preferring to spend a quiet period with his family in Austria before Christmas, rather than preparing for Crystal Palace's 29th fixture of the campaign—a Carabao Cup quarter-final with Arsenal. Yet, the idea that Palace might focus on other competitions was swiftly dismissed by their manager.

"No, I don't think so," stated Glasner following his team's side's four-one loss to Leeds. "Should anyone tells me that we lose on purpose, the following day I'm not the coach anymore."

There is a marked contrast in Glasner's strategy to domestic cup competitions compared to his predecessor, Roy Hodgson. This initially became clear during Palace's journey to the League Cup last eight in his first complete campaign in command. Under Hodgson, the team had previously been eliminated from both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup by the time Glasner assumed control at Selhurst Park. Conversely, Glasner selected his first-choice lineup for victories over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, setting up a showdown with Arsenal.

That prior last-eight tie concluded in a three-two loss at the Emirates Stadium, due to a somewhat debated hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, despite Palace having been ahead at half-time. Now, Glasner now faces the task to figure out a plan for revenge versus the current Premier League leaders in a match that was rescheduled to this week owing to European obligations.

The Price of Success and Continental Fatigue

Glasner has, in a way, been a victim of his own achievements. Guiding Palace to their maiden major trophy with victory in the FA Cup final has ushered in the challenges of European football for the first time. These demands are taking a toll on several fatigued players, many of whom have barely enjoyed a break all season.

The coach selected an entirely changed lineup, featuring four teenagers, in their last Conference League match. Yet, ahead of the Arsenal clash, he admitted he will have "little choice" but to pick the majority of his preferred side, which looked decidedly lethargic as they unusually conceded four goals from set-pieces versus Leeds. "Have to. Yes, must," he affirmed.

Arsenal's Perspective and Selection Considerations

On Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the situation are different. The boss must balance his desire to win a another major trophy with extreme practicality. Last year, a hamstring injury to Bukayo Saka sustained in a league game versus Palace only days after their Carabao Cup comeback significantly damaged their title hopes.

Arteta had made several changes for that League Cup match but was compelled to bring on his "big-hitters" following the break. Saka came off the bench to set up Jesus for a decisive goal in a move that left Glasner "incensed" over a potential offside, with no VAR available—a situation that will be the case again on Tuesday.

Arsenal have an eight-match unbeaten streak versus Palace, including seven wins. Gabriel Jesus, who scored a hat-trick in last season's League Cup meeting and two in a later league win before suffering a long-term knee injury, looks set to begin for the first time since that setback. Arteta disclosed the forward wrote a "touching" letter to his teammates about what football means to him.

"We're accustomed to it," said Arteta on the congested fixture list. "I think this week was the only complete week we had to prepare. The period until February at least is going to be like this. We have a wonderful opportunity to go into the semi-final of a competition so we will be ready."

With key players coming back from injury and a desire to progress, Arsenal pose a daunting challenge for a Palace side urgently in need of rejuvenation as the holiday schedule intensifies.