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You could forgive Oliver Glasner for wishing to spend a restful few days with his loved ones in Austria ahead of Christmas, instead of gearing up for Crystal Palace's twenty-ninth game of the season—a League Cup quarter-final against Arsenal. However, the notion that Palace might prioritize other tournaments was quickly dismissed by their manager.

"Absolutely not, I do not believe that," remarked Glasner following his team's side's four-one defeat to Leeds. "Should anyone informs me that we lose on purpose, the next day I'm not the coach anymore."

There is a marked contrast in Glasner's approach to domestic cup competitions versus his forerunner, Roy Hodgson. This first was evident during Palace's journey to the Carabao 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 by the time Glasner took over at Selhurst Park. In contrast, Glasner fielded his first-choice side for victories over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, paving the way for a encounter with Arsenal.

That prior last-eight tie concluded in a three-two defeat at the Emirates Stadium, thanks to a slightly debated hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having been ahead at the interval. Now, Glasner must devise a plan for revenge versus the present Premier League pace-setters in a fixture that was rescheduled to this week owing to European commitments.

A Price of Success and European Exhaustion

Glasner has, in a way, been a casualty of his own success. Guiding Palace to their maiden major trophy with victory in the FA Cup final has brought the challenges of continental football for the very first time. These demands are catching up with several exhausted players, many of whom have barely enjoyed a break all term.

The manager deployed an completely different side, including four teenagers, in their last Conference League fixture. However, for the Arsenal clash, he admitted he will have "little choice" but to select the bulk of his preferred 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' Viewpoint and Team Considerations

On Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the situation are different. The boss must juggle his desire to win a another major trophy with considerable pragmatism. Last year, a hamstring injury to Bukayo Saka suffered in a league game against Palace just days after their Carabao Cup comeback significantly damaged their title hopes.

Arteta had implemented a number of changes for that League Cup tie but was forced to introduce his "big-hitters" following the break. Saka was introduced from the bench to assist Jesus for a crucial goal in a move that left Glasner "incensed" over a potential offside, with no VAR available—a situation that will repeat again on Tuesday.

Arsenal are on an eight-game winning streak versus Palace, including seven victories. Gabriel Jesus, who scored a hat-trick in the previous campaign's League Cup meeting and two in a later league win before suffering a serious knee injury, looks set to start for the first since that injury. Arteta revealed the forward wrote a "touching" letter to his teammates about what football means to him.

"We are used to it," said Arteta on the congested fixture list. "I think this week was the sole full week we had to prepare. The rest until February at least is will be like this. We have a wonderful opportunity to go into the last four of a tournament so we will be prepared."

Amid key players coming back from injury and a determination to progress, Arsenal present a formidable test for a Crystal Palace side desperately in need of a spark as the festive schedule intensifies.