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One might forgive Oliver Glasner for preferring to spend a restful few days with his family in Austria before Christmas, rather than gearing up for Crystal Palace's twenty-ninth game of the campaign—a League Cup quarter-final against Arsenal. However, the suggestion that Palace could focus on other competitions was quickly rejected by their boss.

"Absolutely not, I do not believe that," remarked Glasner after his team's side's four-one loss to Leeds. "Should anyone tells me that we lose deliberately, the following day I'm no longer the manager anymore."

There is a marked difference in Glasner's strategy to cup tournaments compared to his predecessor, Roy Hodgson. This first was evident during Palace's run to the Carabao Cup last eight in his first full season in charge. Under Hodgson, the club had already been eliminated from each of the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup by the time Glasner assumed control at Selhurst Park. In contrast, Glasner picked his first-choice lineup for victories over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, setting up a encounter with Arsenal.

That previous quarter-final tie concluded in a three-two defeat at the Emirates Stadium, thanks to a somewhat debated hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having been ahead at half-time. Now, Glasner now faces the task to devise a plan for payback versus 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 Exhaustion

Glasner has, in a sense, been a victim of his own success. Guiding Palace to their maiden major trophy with victory in the FA Cup final has brought the challenges of European football for the first time. These demands are catching up with some weary squad members, many of whom have hardly enjoyed a rest all term.

The coach deployed an entirely changed lineup, featuring four teenagers, in their last Conference League fixture. However, ahead of the Arsenal clash, he admitted he will have "no option" but to pick the majority of his preferred side, which appeared extremely lethargic as they uncharacteristically conceded four goals from set-pieces versus Leeds. "Must. Yes, have to," he affirmed.

Arsenal's Viewpoint and Team Considerations

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

Arteta had implemented a number of changes for that cup match but was compelled to introduce his "big-hitters" following the break. Saka came off the bench to set up Jesus for a decisive goal in a passage of play that left Glasner "furious" over a potential offside, with no VAR in operation—a scenario that will repeat again on Tuesday.

Arsenal are on an eight-game unbeaten streak against 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 sustaining a long-term knee injury, looks set to begin for the first time since that injury. Arteta revealed the forward wrote a "beautiful" letter to his teammates about what football signifies to him.

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

With key players returning from injury and a determination to progress, Arsenal pose a formidable test for a Crystal Palace side desperately in need of rejuvenation as the holiday schedule intensifies.