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One might excuse Oliver Glasner for preferring to enjoy a restful period with his family in Austria before Christmas, rather than preparing for Crystal Palace's twenty-ninth game of the season—a League Cup quarter-final with Arsenal. However, the idea that Palace could focus on other tournaments was firmly rejected by their manager.

"No, I do not believe that," stated Glasner following his team's side's four-one defeat to Leeds. "Should somebody tells me that we lose on purpose, the following day I'm no longer the coach any more."

There is a clear contrast in Glasner's approach to domestic cup tournaments compared to his forerunner, Roy Hodgson. This initially became clear during Palace's journey to the League Cup quarter-finals in his first full season in command. Under Hodgson, the club had previously been eliminated from each of the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup when Glasner assumed control at Selhurst Park. Conversely, Glasner fielded his strongest lineup for wins over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, setting up a showdown with Arsenal.

That previous last-eight tie ended in a three-two loss at the Emirates Stadium, following a slightly controversial hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having been ahead at half-time. Almost exactly twelve months later, Glasner must figure out a plan for payback against the present Premier League pace-setters in a match that was rescheduled to this week because of European commitments.

A Price of Success and Continental Fatigue

Glasner has, in a sense, been a casualty of his own achievements. Leading Palace to their maiden major trophy with victory in the FA Cup final subsequently brought the demands of continental football for the very first time. These pressures are taking a toll on some exhausted squad members, many of whom have barely had a break all term.

The coach deployed an entirely changed team, including four youngsters, in their final Conference League fixture. Yet, ahead of the Arsenal clash, he conceded he will have "no option" but to pick the bulk of his first-choice side, which appeared extremely lethargic as they unusually conceded four goals from set-pieces versus Leeds. "Must. Yes, have to," he affirmed.

The Gunners' Viewpoint and Team Dilemmas

For Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the circumstances are distinct. The manager must juggle his desire to win a second major trophy with considerable practicality. Last year, a muscle injury to Bukayo Saka sustained in a league game versus Palace only days after their Carabao Cup fightback greatly damaged their title aspirations.

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

Arsenal have an eight-match winning run against Palace, including 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 suffering a serious knee injury, is expected to start for the first since that injury. Arteta revealed the striker wrote a "touching" letter to his teammates about what football means to him.

"We are used to it," commented Arteta on the busy schedule. "I think this week was the sole complete week we had to prepare. The period until February at least is going to be like this. We have a beautiful chance to go into the last four of a competition so we will be prepared."

With important players coming back from injury and a determination to progress, Arsenal pose a daunting test for a Crystal Palace side desperately in need of rejuvenation as the festive schedule ramps up.