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You could forgive Oliver Glasner for wishing to spend a quiet few days with his loved ones in Austria ahead of Christmas, instead of preparing for Crystal Palace's 29th game of the season—a League Cup quarter-final with Arsenal. Yet, the suggestion that Palace could prioritize other competitions was firmly dismissed by their boss.

"Absolutely not, I don't think so," stated Glasner after his team's side's four-one defeat to Leeds. "If anyone tells me that we are defeated on purpose, the following day I'm no longer the manager anymore."

There is a clear contrast in Glasner's philosophy to domestic cup competitions relative to his predecessor, Roy Hodgson. This initially became clear during Palace's journey to the League Cup quarter-finals in his first complete campaign in command. Under Hodgson, the team had previously been knocked out from both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup when Glasner took over at Selhurst Park. Conversely, Glasner fielded his strongest lineup for victories over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, paving the way for a encounter with Arsenal.

That previous last-eight match ended in a 3-2 defeat at the Emirates Stadium, following a somewhat controversial hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having led at half-time. Almost exactly twelve months later, Glasner must devise a plan for revenge against the present Premier League pace-setters in a match that was rescheduled to this week owing to European obligations.

The Cost of Achievement and European Fatigue

Glasner has, in a way, been a casualty of his own success. Leading Palace to their first major trophy with a win in the FA Cup final subsequently ushered in the demands of continental football for the first time. These pressures are catching up with some weary squad members, many of whom have barely had a rest all season.

The manager selected an completely different team, including four teenagers, in their last Conference League match. However, ahead of the Arsenal clash, he conceded he will have "no option" but to select the bulk of his preferred side, which looked decidedly jaded as they uncharacteristically conceded four goals from set-pieces against Leeds. "Must. Yes, must," he said.

Arsenal's Perspective and Team Considerations

On Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the situation are distinct. The manager must balance his ambition to win a second major trophy with extreme practicality. Last year, a muscle injury to Bukayo Saka sustained in a league game versus Palace only days after their Carabao Cup fightback significantly damaged their title aspirations.

Arteta had implemented several changes for that League Cup match but was forced to introduce his "key players" after the break. Saka came off 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 have an eight-game winning streak against Palace, featuring seven wins. Gabriel Jesus, who scored a hat-trick in last season's League Cup encounter and a brace in a subsequent league win before suffering a serious knee injury, looks set to begin for the first time since that injury. Arteta disclosed the striker wrote a "touching" letter to his teammates about what football signifies to him.

"We're used to it," said Arteta on the congested schedule. "I think this week was the sole complete week we had to prepare. The period until February at least is will be similar. We have a beautiful chance to go into the semi-final of a tournament so we will be ready."

With key players coming back from injury and a desire to progress, Arsenal present a formidable test for a Crystal Palace side desperately in need of rejuvenation as the holiday schedule ramps up.