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You could forgive Oliver Glasner for preferring to enjoy a quiet period with his family in Austria before Christmas, instead of preparing for Crystal Palace's twenty-ninth game of the season—a League Cup last-eight clash against Arsenal. Yet, the notion that Palace could focus on other tournaments was quickly rejected by their boss.

"No, I do not believe that," stated Glasner following his team's side's four-one defeat to Leeds. "If anyone informs me that we are defeated deliberately, the following day I'm not the coach any more."

There exists a clear difference in Glasner's approach to cup tournaments relative to his forerunner, Roy Hodgson. This first became clear during Palace's journey to the Carabao Cup last eight in his first full season in command. Under Hodgson, the team had previously been eliminated from each of the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup when Glasner took over at Selhurst Park. In contrast, Glasner selected his first-choice side for wins over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, paving the way for a showdown with Arsenal.

That previous last-eight match concluded in a three-two loss at the Emirates Stadium, due to a slightly debated 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 revenge against the present Premier League leaders in a fixture that was rescheduled to this week because of European commitments.

A Cost of Achievement and Continental Exhaustion

Glasner has, in a sense, been a casualty of his own success. Leading Palace to their first major trophy with a win in the FA Cup final subsequently brought the rigors of European football for the very first time. These demands are taking a toll on several weary players, many of whom have barely had a rest all term.

The manager selected an entirely changed lineup, including four teenagers, in their final Conference League match. However, for the Arsenal clash, he conceded he will have "no option" but to select the majority of his preferred side, which looked extremely lethargic as they uncharacteristically conceded four goals from set-pieces versus Leeds. "Must. Yes, must," he stated.

The Gunners' Perspective and Team Dilemmas

For Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the circumstances are distinct. The manager must balance his ambition to win a second major trophy with considerable pragmatism. Last year, a muscle injury to Bukayo Saka suffered in a league game against Palace only days after their Carabao Cup fightback greatly harmed their title aspirations.

Arteta had implemented several changes for that cup match but was forced to introduce 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 "incensed" over a potential offside, with no VAR in operation—a scenario that will be the case again on Tuesday.

Arsenal are on an eight-match unbeaten streak versus Palace, including seven victories. Gabriel Jesus, who scored a hat-trick in last season's League Cup encounter and a brace in a later league win before sustaining a serious knee injury, looks set to begin for the first since that setback. Arteta revealed the striker wrote a "touching" letter to his teammates about what football means to him.

"We are used to it," said Arteta on the congested schedule. "In my view this week was the only 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 tournament so we will be prepared."

Amid important players returning from injury and a desire to progress, Arsenal pose a formidable test for a Palace side urgently in need of rejuvenation as the festive schedule intensifies.