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One might forgive Oliver Glasner for wishing to enjoy a quiet few days with his family in Austria ahead of Christmas, rather than preparing for Crystal Palace's twenty-ninth game of the campaign—a League Cup quarter-final against Arsenal. Yet, the notion that Palace could focus on other tournaments was quickly rejected by their head coach.

"Absolutely not, I don't think so," declared Glasner following his team's side's four-one defeat to Leeds. "Should somebody informs me that we lose on purpose, the following day I'm no longer the coach any more."

There is a stark contrast in Glasner's approach to domestic cup tournaments compared to his forerunner, Roy Hodgson. This first was evident during Palace's run to the League Cup quarter-finals in his first complete campaign in charge. Under Hodgson, the team had previously been eliminated from both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup by the time Glasner assumed control at Selhurst Park. Conversely, Glasner picked his best side for victories over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, paving the way for a meeting with Arsenal.

That previous quarter-final tie concluded in a 3-2 defeat at the Emirates Stadium, due to a rather controversial hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having been ahead at half-time. Almost exactly twelve months later, Glasner must figure out a strategy for revenge against the present Premier League pace-setters in a match that was moved to this week because of European obligations.

The Cost of Success and Continental Exhaustion

Glasner has, in a sense, been a victim of his own achievements. Guiding Palace to their maiden major trophy with a win in the FA Cup final has brought the rigors of European football for the very first time. These demands are catching up with several weary players, many of whom have barely had a rest all season.

The coach selected an entirely changed side, featuring four teenagers, in their final Conference League fixture. Yet, for the Arsenal clash, he admitted he will have "no option" but to choose the bulk of his first-choice side, which appeared extremely lethargic as they uncharacteristically let in four goals from set-pieces against Leeds. "Must. Yes, must," he stated.

The Gunners' Viewpoint and Team Dilemmas

On Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the circumstances are different. The manager must juggle his ambition to win a second major trophy with considerable practicality. The previous season, a hamstring injury to Bukayo Saka suffered in a league game against Palace just days after their Carabao Cup comeback greatly damaged their title hopes.

Arteta had implemented a number of changes for that League Cup match but was forced to introduce his "key players" following the break. Saka came off the bench to assist Jesus for a crucial goal in a move that left Glasner "incensed" over a possible offside, with no VAR available—a scenario that will be the case again on Tuesday.

Arsenal are on an eight-game winning run against Palace, including seven wins. Gabriel Jesus, who scored a hat-trick in last season's League Cup meeting and a brace in a subsequent league win before sustaining a serious knee injury, is expected to start for the first since that injury. Arteta revealed the striker wrote a "touching" letter to his teammates about what football signifies to him.

"We're accustomed to it," said Arteta on the busy schedule. "I think this week was the sole full week we had to get ready. The period until February at least is going to be similar. We have a beautiful chance to go into the semi-final of a tournament so we will be ready."

Amid important players returning from injury and a determination to progress, Arsenal present a formidable challenge for a Crystal Palace side desperately in need of rejuvenation as the festive period intensifies.