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One might forgive Oliver Glasner for wishing to spend a restful few days with his loved ones in Austria before Christmas, rather than gearing up for Crystal Palace's 29th game of the season—a League Cup quarter-final with Arsenal. However, the idea that Palace could prioritize 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 informs me that we are defeated on purpose, the next day I'm not the manager any more."

There exists a clear difference in Glasner's philosophy to domestic cup tournaments versus his predecessor, Roy Hodgson. This first became clear during Palace's run to the Carabao Cup last eight in his first full season in charge. Under Hodgson, the club had already been knocked out from each of the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup by the time Glasner took over at Selhurst Park. In contrast, Glasner picked his strongest team for victories over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, setting up a meeting with Arsenal.

That previous quarter-final match ended in a three-two defeat at the Emirates Stadium, thanks to a slightly controversial hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having been ahead at the interval. Almost exactly twelve months later, Glasner must devise a plan for payback versus the current Premier League leaders in a fixture that was rescheduled to this week because of European commitments.

A Cost of Achievement and European Fatigue

Glasner has, in a way, 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 rigors of continental football for the very first time. These demands are taking a toll on some weary squad members, many of whom have hardly had a break all season.

The coach fielded an completely changed team, including four youngsters, in their final Conference League fixture. However, ahead of the Arsenal clash, he admitted he will have "little choice" but to choose the majority of his preferred team, which looked decidedly lethargic as they uncharacteristically conceded four goals from set-pieces versus Leeds. "Have to. Yes, have to," he said.

Arsenal's Perspective and Team Considerations

On Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the circumstances are distinct. The boss must juggle his ambition to win a second major trophy with considerable practicality. The previous season, a hamstring injury to Bukayo Saka sustained in a league game against Palace only days after their Carabao Cup fightback significantly harmed their title aspirations.

Arteta had made several changes for that League Cup match but was forced to bring on his "big-hitters" following the break. Saka was introduced from the bench to assist Jesus for a decisive goal in a passage of play that left Glasner "furious" over a potential offside, with no VAR available—a situation that will repeat again on Tuesday.

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

"We are used to it," said Arteta on the busy schedule. "In my view this week was the sole full 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 ready."

With important players returning from injury and a determination to progress, Arsenal present a formidable challenge for a Crystal Palace side desperately in need of a spark as the holiday period intensifies.