Oliver Glasner Aims to Energize Fatigued Crystal Palace as Payback Versus Arsenal Beckons.

You could forgive Oliver Glasner for wishing to spend a restful period with his family in Austria before Christmas, rather than preparing for Crystal Palace's 29th game of the campaign—a League Cup quarter-final with Arsenal. However, the suggestion that Palace could prioritize other tournaments was swiftly rejected by their boss.

"No, 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 deliberately, the following day I'm no longer the coach any more."

There is a marked contrast in Glasner's strategy to cup competitions versus his forerunner, Roy Hodgson. This first was evident during Palace's run to the League Cup quarter-finals in his first full season in charge. 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. Conversely, Glasner fielded his first-choice team for victories over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, paving the way for a encounter with Arsenal.

That previous quarter-final tie ended in a 3-2 defeat at the Emirates Stadium, due to a slightly controversial hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, despite Palace having led at the interval. Now, Glasner now faces the task to figure out a plan for revenge against the current Premier League pace-setters in a match that was moved to this week owing to European obligations.

A Price of Success and Continental Fatigue

Glasner has, in a sense, been a casualty of his own achievements. Guiding Palace to their maiden major trophy with a win in the FA Cup final has ushered in the demands of European football for the very first time. These demands are catching up with several fatigued squad members, many of whom have barely enjoyed a rest all season.

The manager deployed an completely changed lineup, featuring four teenagers, in their last Conference League match. However, for the Arsenal game, he admitted he will have "no option" but to pick the bulk of his preferred side, which appeared extremely lethargic as they unusually let in four goals from set-pieces versus Leeds. "Have to. Yes, must," he affirmed.

The Gunners' Viewpoint and Selection Considerations

For Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the situation are different. The manager must juggle his desire to win a another major trophy with considerable practicality. Last year, a hamstring injury to Bukayo Saka sustained in a league game against Palace only days after their Carabao Cup fightback greatly harmed their title aspirations.

Arteta had made several changes for that League Cup tie but was compelled to bring on his "key players" following the break. Saka was introduced from the bench to assist Jesus for a decisive goal in a move that left Glasner "furious" over a potential offside, with no VAR in operation—a scenario that will repeat again on Tuesday.

Arsenal have an eight-match unbeaten streak against Palace, including seven victories. Gabriel Jesus, who netted a hat-trick in the previous campaign's League Cup meeting and two in a later league win before sustaining a serious knee injury, looks set to begin for the first time since that setback. Arteta revealed the forward wrote a "touching" letter to his teammates about what football signifies to him.

"We are used to it," commented 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 opportunity to go into the semi-final of a competition so we will be ready."

With important players returning from injury and a desire to advance, Arsenal pose a daunting challenge for a Palace side urgently in need of a spark as the holiday schedule intensifies.