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You could forgive Oliver Glasner for preferring to enjoy a restful period with his loved ones in Austria ahead of Christmas, instead of preparing for Crystal Palace's twenty-ninth match of the campaign—a League Cup last-eight clash against Arsenal. However, the suggestion that Palace might focus on other tournaments was swiftly dismissed by their head coach.

"No, I don't think so," remarked Glasner following his team's side's four-one hammering to Leeds. "If somebody tells me that we are defeated on purpose, the following day I'm no longer the coach any more."

There exists 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 complete campaign in command. Under Hodgson, the club had previously been eliminated from each of the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup by the time Glasner took over at Selhurst Park. Conversely, Glasner fielded his best team for wins over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, setting up a meeting with Arsenal.

That prior last-eight match ended in a 3-2 loss at the Emirates Stadium, thanks to a somewhat controversial hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, despite Palace having been ahead at the interval. Almost exactly twelve months later, Glasner now faces the task to devise a plan for payback against the present Premier League pace-setters in a match that was moved to this week owing to European commitments.

A Price of Achievement and European Fatigue

Glasner has, in a sense, been a victim of his own success. Guiding Palace to their first major trophy with victory in the FA Cup final has brought the demands of continental football for the first time. These pressures are taking a toll on several weary players, many of whom have barely had a break all season.

The manager selected an completely changed team, featuring four youngsters, in their final Conference League fixture. However, ahead of the Arsenal clash, he admitted he will have "little choice" but to select the majority of his preferred side, which appeared extremely lethargic as they uncharacteristically let in four goals from set-pieces versus Leeds. "Have to. Yes, must," he stated.

Arsenal's Perspective and Team Dilemmas

On Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the circumstances are distinct. The boss must juggle 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 made several changes for that cup tie but was forced to bring on his "key players" 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 be the case again on Tuesday.

Arsenal have an eight-game unbeaten streak against Palace, featuring seven victories. Gabriel Jesus, who netted a hat-trick in last season's League Cup meeting and two in a subsequent league win before suffering a long-term knee injury, is expected to begin for the first time since then injury. Arteta revealed the forward wrote a "beautiful" letter to his teammates about what football signifies to him.

"We are used to it," commented Arteta on the congested schedule. "I think this week was the only complete week we had to get ready. The period until February at least is going to be similar. We have a wonderful opportunity to go into the semi-final of a competition so we will be prepared."

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