Oliver Glasner Hopes to Energize Jaded Crystal Palace as Revenge Against The Gunners Beckons.

One might forgive Oliver Glasner for preferring to enjoy a restful few days with his loved ones in Austria before Christmas, instead of preparing for Crystal Palace's twenty-ninth game of the season—a Carabao Cup last-eight clash with Arsenal. However, the notion that Palace might focus on other competitions was quickly rejected by their boss.

"Absolutely not, I don't think so," remarked Glasner after his team's side's four-one loss to Leeds. "If somebody tells me that we are defeated deliberately, the following day I'm not the coach anymore."

There is a clear difference in Glasner's approach to domestic cup tournaments relative to his forerunner, Roy Hodgson. This first was evident during Palace's run to the Carabao Cup last eight in his first complete campaign in command. Under Hodgson, the team had previously been eliminated from each of the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup when Glasner took over at Selhurst Park. In contrast, Glasner selected his first-choice lineup for victories over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, paving the way for a meeting with Arsenal.

That previous quarter-final tie concluded in a three-two defeat at the Emirates Stadium, thanks to a rather controversial hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having been ahead at the interval. Now, Glasner now faces the task to devise a plan for revenge versus the current Premier League pace-setters in a fixture that was moved to this week because of European obligations.

The Price of Achievement and European Fatigue

Glasner has, in a way, been a victim of his own achievements. Guiding Palace to their first major trophy with victory in the FA Cup final has ushered in the rigors of continental football for the very first time. These demands are taking a toll on several weary squad members, many of whom have hardly had a break all term.

The manager fielded an entirely different lineup, featuring four youngsters, in their last Conference League match. However, for the Arsenal game, he conceded he will have "no option" but to select the bulk of his first-choice side, which looked extremely lethargic as they uncharacteristically let in four goals from set-pieces against Leeds. "Have to. Yes, have to," he affirmed.

The Gunners' Perspective and Selection Considerations

For Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the circumstances are different. The manager must balance his desire to win a another major trophy with extreme pragmatism. Last year, a muscle injury to Bukayo Saka suffered in a league game against Palace only days after their Carabao Cup comeback greatly harmed their title hopes.

Arteta had implemented several changes for that League Cup tie but was compelled to introduce his "key players" after the break. Saka was introduced from the bench to assist Jesus for a decisive goal in a passage of play that left Glasner "incensed" over a potential offside, with no VAR available—a situation that will be the case again on Tuesday.

Arsenal are on an eight-match winning streak against Palace, featuring seven victories. Gabriel Jesus, who netted a hat-trick in the previous campaign's League Cup meeting and a brace in a subsequent league win before sustaining a long-term knee injury, is expected to begin for the first since then injury. Arteta disclosed the striker wrote a "touching" letter to his teammates about what football means to him.

"We're used to it," said Arteta on the busy fixture list. "In my view this week was the sole complete week we had to get ready. The rest until February at least is will be similar. We have a wonderful chance to go into the semi-final of a tournament so we will be prepared."

With important players coming back from injury and a determination to advance, Arsenal present a formidable test for a Palace side desperately in need of a spark as the holiday schedule intensifies.