Glasner Hopes to Energize Jaded Palace as Revenge Against Arsenal Looms.

You could excuse Oliver Glasner for preferring to spend a quiet period with his family in Austria before Christmas, instead of preparing for Crystal Palace's 29th game of the campaign—a League Cup last-eight clash against Arsenal. Yet, the notion that Palace could prioritize other tournaments was swiftly rejected by their manager.

"No, I don't think so," declared Glasner after his team's side's 4-1 loss to Leeds. "If somebody informs me that we are defeated deliberately, the next day I'm no longer the manager any more."

There is a marked difference in Glasner's strategy to domestic cup tournaments compared to his forerunner, Roy Hodgson. This initially became clear during Palace's run to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals in his first complete campaign in charge. Under Hodgson, the team had already been eliminated from both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup by the time Glasner assumed control at Selhurst Park. In contrast, Glasner picked his best team for wins over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, paving the way for a meeting with Arsenal.

That prior last-eight match concluded in a 3-2 defeat at the Emirates Stadium, thanks to a slightly debated hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having been ahead at the interval. Now, Glasner must devise a strategy for payback against the current Premier League leaders in a match that was moved to this week because of European obligations.

A Cost of Success and Continental Exhaustion

Glasner has, in a sense, been a victim of his own success. Leading Palace to their maiden major trophy with a win in the FA Cup final subsequently brought the demands of continental 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 deployed an completely different team, including four teenagers, in their last Conference League fixture. Yet, ahead of the Arsenal clash, he admitted he will have "little choice" but to pick the bulk of his preferred side, which appeared decidedly lethargic as they uncharacteristically conceded four goals from set-pieces against Leeds. "Must. Yes, must," he said.

Arsenal's Viewpoint and Team Dilemmas

On Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the circumstances are different. The manager must juggle his desire to win a second major trophy with extreme practicality. The previous season, a hamstring injury to Bukayo Saka sustained in a league game against Palace just days after their Carabao Cup comeback greatly damaged their title hopes.

Arteta had implemented a number of changes for that League Cup match but was compelled to bring on his "key players" following the break. Saka was introduced from the bench to assist Jesus for a crucial goal in a move that left Glasner "incensed" over a possible offside, with no VAR in operation—a scenario that will repeat again on Tuesday.

Arsenal are on an eight-game winning run against Palace, featuring seven victories. Gabriel Jesus, who scored a hat-trick in last season's League Cup encounter and two in a later league win before suffering a serious knee injury, looks set to start for the first time since then injury. Arteta disclosed the striker wrote a "beautiful" letter to his teammates about what football means to him.

"We are used to it," said Arteta on the busy schedule. "I think this week was the only complete week we had to get ready. The rest until February at least is will be similar. We have a beautiful chance to go into the last four of a tournament so we will be ready."

With key players coming back from injury and a determination to advance, Arsenal pose a daunting challenge for a Crystal Palace side urgently in need of a spark as the festive schedule intensifies.