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You could excuse Oliver Glasner for wishing to enjoy a quiet period with his family in Austria ahead of Christmas, instead of preparing for Crystal Palace's twenty-ninth fixture of the season—a League Cup last-eight clash with Arsenal. Yet, the notion that Palace could prioritize other competitions was swiftly dismissed by their head coach.

"Absolutely not, I don't think so," stated Glasner following his team's side's 4-1 hammering to Leeds. "If somebody informs me that we are defeated on purpose, the next day I'm not the coach any more."

There is a stark difference in Glasner's approach to cup competitions relative to his predecessor, Roy Hodgson. This first became clear during Palace's journey to the League Cup quarter-finals in his debut full season in charge. Under Hodgson, the team had already been eliminated from both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup when Glasner assumed control at Selhurst Park. In contrast, Glasner picked his best lineup for victories over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, setting up a meeting with Arsenal.

That prior last-eight tie ended in a three-two loss at the Emirates Stadium, thanks to a slightly controversial hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having been ahead at half-time. Now, Glasner must figure out a plan for revenge versus the current Premier League leaders in a fixture that was rescheduled to this week because of European commitments.

A Price of Achievement and European Fatigue

Glasner has, in a way, been a victim of his own success. Guiding Palace to their maiden major trophy with victory in the FA Cup final has brought the challenges of European football for the first time. These demands are taking a toll on some exhausted squad members, many of whom have barely enjoyed a break all term.

The manager deployed an entirely changed lineup, featuring four teenagers, in their last Conference League fixture. However, for the Arsenal clash, he admitted he will have "little choice" but to choose the majority of his first-choice team, which appeared extremely jaded as they uncharacteristically conceded four goals from set-pieces versus Leeds. "Have to. Yes, have to," he affirmed.

The Gunners' Perspective and Team Dilemmas

For Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the situation are distinct. The boss must balance his ambition to win a another major trophy with extreme practicality. Last year, a hamstring injury to Bukayo Saka sustained in a league game against Palace just days after their Carabao Cup fightback greatly damaged their title aspirations.

Arteta had made several changes for that League Cup match but was compelled to bring on his "big-hitters" 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 available—a scenario that will be the case again on Tuesday.

Arsenal are on an eight-match unbeaten streak against Palace, featuring seven wins. Gabriel Jesus, who netted a hat-trick in the previous campaign's League Cup meeting and two in a later league win before suffering a serious knee injury, looks set to begin for the first since then setback. Arteta revealed the striker wrote a "beautiful" letter to his teammates about what football means to him.

"We're accustomed to it," commented Arteta on the congested schedule. "I think this week was the sole full 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 ready."

With key players returning from injury and a determination to advance, Arsenal pose a daunting test for a Crystal Palace side desperately in need of rejuvenation as the holiday period intensifies.