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One might excuse Oliver Glasner for wishing to enjoy a restful period with his family in Austria before Christmas, instead of gearing up for Crystal Palace's twenty-ninth game of the season—a League Cup quarter-final with Arsenal. Yet, the notion that Palace could focus on other tournaments was quickly dismissed by their head coach.

"Absolutely not, I don't think so," declared Glasner after his team's side's 4-1 hammering to Leeds. "Should somebody informs me that we lose deliberately, the following day I'm no longer the coach anymore."

There is a stark contrast in Glasner's approach to domestic cup tournaments relative to his forerunner, Roy Hodgson. This first was evident during Palace's run to the Carabao Cup last eight in his debut full season in command. Under Hodgson, the team had previously been knocked out from both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup by the time Glasner assumed control at Selhurst Park. Conversely, Glasner selected his strongest lineup for victories over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, setting up a meeting with Arsenal.

That previous quarter-final tie concluded in a 3-2 loss at the Emirates Stadium, following a slightly controversial hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having led at half-time. Almost exactly twelve months later, Glasner must figure out a strategy for payback versus the current Premier League pace-setters in a match that was rescheduled to this week owing to European obligations.

The Price of Achievement and European Fatigue

Glasner has, in a sense, been a casualty of his own success. Guiding Palace to their first major trophy with a win in the FA Cup final subsequently ushered in the demands of continental football for the very first time. These pressures are taking a toll on several fatigued squad members, many of whom have hardly enjoyed a break all term.

The manager selected an entirely different lineup, featuring four teenagers, in their final Conference League fixture. However, for the Arsenal clash, he admitted he will have "no option" but to choose the majority of his preferred side, which appeared extremely lethargic as they uncharacteristically let in four goals from set-pieces against Leeds. "Must. Yes, must," he affirmed.

The Gunners' Viewpoint and Team Considerations

On Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the situation are distinct. The boss must balance his ambition to win a second major trophy with extreme pragmatism. The previous season, a hamstring injury to Bukayo Saka suffered 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 compelled to introduce his "big-hitters" after the break. Saka came off the bench to assist Jesus for a decisive goal in a move that left Glasner "furious" over a potential offside, with no VAR available—a situation that will repeat again on Tuesday.

Arsenal have an eight-match winning run versus Palace, featuring seven wins. Gabriel Jesus, who netted a hat-trick in last season's League Cup meeting and two in a subsequent league win before sustaining a serious knee injury, looks set to start for the first time since that setback. Arteta revealed the forward wrote a "touching" letter to his teammates about what football signifies to him.

"We're used to it," commented Arteta on the busy fixture list. "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 last four of a competition so we will be ready."

With important players coming back from injury and a determination to advance, Arsenal pose a formidable challenge for a Crystal Palace side desperately in need of a spark as the festive schedule ramps up.