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One might excuse Oliver Glasner for preferring to enjoy a quiet period with his family in Austria before Christmas, instead of gearing up for Crystal Palace's twenty-ninth game of the campaign—a League Cup quarter-final with Arsenal. Yet, the suggestion that Palace might focus on other competitions was swiftly dismissed by their boss.

"No, I do not believe that," declared Glasner following his team's side's 4-1 defeat to Leeds. "Should anyone tells me that we are defeated on purpose, the following day I'm no longer the coach any more."

There is a marked contrast in Glasner's approach to cup tournaments relative to his predecessor, Roy Hodgson. This initially became clear during Palace's journey to the League 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 took over at Selhurst Park. Conversely, Glasner picked his best lineup for wins over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, setting up a meeting with Arsenal.

That previous quarter-final tie concluded in a three-two defeat at the Emirates Stadium, thanks to a slightly controversial hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having led at the interval. Now, Glasner must devise a strategy for revenge against the present Premier League pace-setters in a fixture that was moved to this week owing to European commitments.

A Cost of Achievement and European Exhaustion

Glasner has, in a sense, been a victim of his own success. Guiding Palace to their maiden major trophy with victory in the FA Cup final subsequently brought the challenges of continental football for the very first time. These demands are taking a toll on several fatigued squad members, many of whom have barely enjoyed a break all season.

The manager selected an entirely different side, including four youngsters, in their final Conference League fixture. However, for the Arsenal game, he conceded he will have "no option" but to select the bulk of his preferred team, which appeared decidedly lethargic as they unusually conceded four goals from set-pieces against Leeds. "Have to. Yes, must," he stated.

The Gunners' Perspective and Selection Considerations

On Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the circumstances are different. The boss must juggle 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 only days after their Carabao Cup comeback greatly harmed their title aspirations.

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 crucial goal in a passage of play that left Glasner "incensed" over a possible offside, with no VAR in operation—a situation that will repeat again on Tuesday.

Arsenal have an eight-match unbeaten streak versus Palace, featuring seven victories. Gabriel Jesus, who scored a hat-trick in last season's League Cup meeting and two in a subsequent league win before suffering a long-term knee injury, is expected to start for the first since then injury. Arteta disclosed the striker wrote a "beautiful" letter to his teammates about what football signifies to him.

"We're used to it," commented Arteta on the congested schedule. "I think this week was the only complete week we had to prepare. The period until February at least is going to be similar. We have a wonderful chance to go into the last four of a competition so we will be ready."

Amid key players returning from injury and a desire to progress, Arsenal pose a daunting challenge for a Crystal Palace side desperately in need of a spark as the festive period ramps up.