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One might excuse Oliver Glasner for wishing to enjoy a restful period with his loved ones in Austria before Christmas, rather than preparing for Crystal Palace's twenty-ninth game of the campaign—a League Cup quarter-final with Arsenal. However, the idea that Palace could prioritize other competitions was firmly dismissed by their boss.

"No, I do not believe that," remarked Glasner after his team's side's 4-1 hammering to Leeds. "Should anyone informs me that we lose on purpose, the next day I'm not the manager anymore."

There is a marked difference in Glasner's philosophy to domestic cup tournaments relative to his predecessor, Roy Hodgson. This initially became clear during Palace's run to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals in his first full season in command. Under Hodgson, the club had previously been eliminated from both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup when Glasner took over at Selhurst Park. In contrast, Glasner picked his best team for wins over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, paving the way for a encounter with Arsenal.

That previous last-eight match concluded in a three-two defeat at the Emirates Stadium, due to a slightly debated hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, despite Palace having been ahead at the interval. Now, Glasner must figure out a plan for revenge against the present Premier League pace-setters in a match that was moved to this week because of European obligations.

A Price 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 a win in the FA Cup final has brought the challenges of European football for the first time. These demands are catching up with several exhausted players, many of whom have hardly enjoyed a break all season.

The coach fielded an completely different team, including four youngsters, in their final Conference League fixture. Yet, for the Arsenal game, he conceded he will have "no option" but to pick the majority of his preferred side, which looked decidedly lethargic as they uncharacteristically let in four goals from set-pieces against Leeds. "Have to. Yes, have to," he said.

Arsenal's Viewpoint and Selection Dilemmas

For Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the circumstances are distinct. The manager must juggle his ambition to win a another major trophy with extreme practicality. Last year, a muscle injury to Bukayo Saka sustained in a league game against Palace only days after their Carabao Cup comeback significantly damaged their title hopes.

Arteta had made several changes for that League Cup tie but was forced to introduce his "big-hitters" after the break. Saka came off the bench to set up Jesus for a decisive 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 unbeaten streak versus Palace, featuring seven wins. Gabriel Jesus, who netted a hat-trick in last season's League Cup encounter and two in a subsequent league win before sustaining a long-term knee injury, looks set to begin for the first since then injury. Arteta disclosed the forward wrote a "touching" letter to his teammates about what football means to him.

"We're used to it," commented Arteta on the congested fixture list. "In my view this week was the sole full week we had to prepare. The rest until February at least is will be similar. We have a beautiful opportunity to go into the last four of a tournament so we will be prepared."

With important players returning from injury and a desire to progress, Arsenal pose a daunting test for a Palace side desperately in need of a spark as the festive period intensifies.