Glasner Seeks to Energize Weary Palace as Payback Against The Gunners Looms.
One might excuse Oliver Glasner for wishing to enjoy a restful period with his loved ones in Austria before Christmas, rather than preparing for Crystal Palace's 29th match of the campaign—a League Cup last-eight clash against Arsenal. However, the suggestion that Palace could prioritize other tournaments was firmly dismissed by their boss.
"No, I don't think so," stated Glasner following his team's side's four-one defeat to Leeds. "Should anyone tells me that we are defeated on purpose, the following day I'm no longer the coach any more."
There is a clear contrast in Glasner's strategy to cup tournaments relative to his forerunner, Roy Hodgson. This initially became clear during Palace's run to the League Cup last eight in his debut complete campaign in charge. Under Hodgson, the club had already been knocked out from both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup when Glasner assumed control at Selhurst Park. Conversely, Glasner picked his best team for victories over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, paving the way for a showdown with Arsenal.
That previous quarter-final match ended in a three-two defeat at the Emirates Stadium, due to a somewhat debated hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, despite Palace having been ahead at the interval. Almost exactly twelve months later, Glasner now faces the task to figure out a plan for revenge versus the present Premier League pace-setters in a match that was rescheduled to this week because of European commitments.
A Price of Achievement and European Fatigue
Glasner has, in a sense, been a victim of his own achievements. Leading Palace to their first major trophy with victory in the FA Cup final subsequently brought the demands of continental football for the very first time. These demands are taking a toll on several fatigued squad members, many of whom have hardly had a break all term.
The manager deployed an entirely different lineup, including four youngsters, in their last Conference League match. However, for the Arsenal clash, he admitted he will have "little choice" but to select the bulk of his first-choice side, which appeared extremely lethargic as they uncharacteristically conceded four goals from set-pieces versus Leeds. "Have to. Yes, have to," he stated.
Arsenal's Perspective and Selection Dilemmas
For Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the circumstances are different. The manager must juggle his desire to win a second major trophy with extreme pragmatism. The previous season, a muscle injury to Bukayo Saka sustained in a league game versus Palace just days after their Carabao Cup comeback greatly harmed their title hopes.
Arteta had made a number of changes for that cup match but was compelled to introduce his "key players" following the break. Saka came off the bench to assist Jesus for a crucial goal in a move that left Glasner "furious" over a potential offside, with no VAR available—a situation that will repeat again on Tuesday.
Arsenal have an eight-match unbeaten run against Palace, featuring seven wins. Gabriel Jesus, who scored a hat-trick in last season's League Cup meeting and a brace in a later league win before sustaining a long-term knee injury, is expected to start for the first time since that setback. Arteta revealed the striker wrote a "touching" letter to his teammates about what football signifies to him.
"We're accustomed to it," said Arteta on the congested schedule. "I think this week was the only full week we had to get ready. The rest until February at least is will be like this. We have a wonderful chance to go into the semi-final of a competition 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 urgently in need of rejuvenation as the festive schedule intensifies.
