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One might excuse Oliver Glasner for preferring to spend a restful few days with his loved ones in Austria ahead of Christmas, instead of gearing up for Crystal Palace's 29th game of the campaign—a League Cup quarter-final against Arsenal. Yet, the suggestion that Palace might prioritize other competitions was swiftly dismissed by their head coach.

"No, I do not believe that," declared Glasner after his team's side's four-one hammering to Leeds. "Should somebody tells me that we lose deliberately, the next day I'm no longer the manager anymore."

There is a stark difference in Glasner's approach to domestic cup competitions versus his predecessor, Roy Hodgson. This initially became clear during Palace's run to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals in his first complete campaign in command. Under Hodgson, the team had already been knocked out from each of the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup when Glasner took over at Selhurst Park. Conversely, Glasner picked his best team for victories over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, paving the way for a meeting with Arsenal.

That prior last-eight tie ended in a 3-2 loss at the Emirates Stadium, following a somewhat controversial hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having led at the interval. Almost exactly twelve months later, Glasner must figure out a plan for payback versus the current Premier League leaders in a fixture that was moved 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 achievements. Leading Palace to their first major trophy with victory in the FA Cup final subsequently ushered in the rigors of continental football for the very first time. These pressures are taking a toll on some fatigued squad members, many of whom have barely had a rest all term.

The coach deployed an entirely different team, featuring four youngsters, in their last Conference League fixture. However, for the Arsenal game, he conceded he will have "no option" but to pick the bulk of his first-choice side, which appeared extremely lethargic as they unusually conceded four goals from set-pieces versus Leeds. "Must. Yes, have to," he said.

Arsenal's Perspective and Team Considerations

On Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the circumstances are distinct. The boss must balance his ambition to win a second major trophy with considerable practicality. The previous season, a muscle injury to Bukayo Saka sustained in a league game against Palace only days after their Carabao Cup fightback significantly damaged their title hopes.

Arteta had implemented a number of changes for that League Cup tie but was compelled to bring on his "key players" following the break. Saka was introduced from the bench to assist Jesus for a decisive goal in a passage of play that left Glasner "furious" over a possible offside, with no VAR in operation—a scenario that will repeat again on Tuesday.

Arsenal have an eight-match unbeaten streak against Palace, featuring seven victories. Gabriel Jesus, who netted a hat-trick in the previous campaign's League Cup encounter and a brace in a later league win before suffering a long-term knee injury, looks set to start for the first time since that injury. Arteta disclosed the striker wrote a "touching" letter to his teammates about what football means to him.

"We are accustomed to it," said Arteta on the congested schedule. "I think this week was the sole complete week we had to get ready. 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 prepared."

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