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You could forgive Oliver Glasner for wishing to spend a restful period with his loved ones in Austria ahead of Christmas, instead of preparing for Crystal Palace's twenty-ninth game of the season—a League Cup last-eight clash against Arsenal. However, the suggestion that Palace might focus on other competitions was swiftly rejected by their manager.

"No, I don't think so," stated Glasner following his team's side's four-one loss to Leeds. "If anyone informs me that we lose deliberately, the next day I'm not the manager any more."

There is a clear difference in Glasner's strategy to domestic cup tournaments relative to his predecessor, Roy Hodgson. This first was evident during Palace's journey to the Carabao Cup last eight in his first complete campaign in charge. Under Hodgson, the club had already been eliminated from both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup when Glasner assumed control at Selhurst Park. Conversely, Glasner fielded his strongest lineup for wins over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, setting up a meeting with Arsenal.

That previous last-eight tie concluded in a three-two defeat at the Emirates Stadium, following a somewhat debated hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, despite Palace having led at the interval. Now, Glasner now faces the task to figure out a strategy for revenge against the present Premier League pace-setters in a match that was rescheduled to this week because of European obligations.

A Price of Success and Continental Fatigue

Glasner has, in a sense, been a victim of his own success. Guiding Palace to their first major trophy with a win in the FA Cup final subsequently ushered in the challenges of continental football for the first time. These pressures are catching up with some exhausted squad members, many of whom have barely enjoyed a break all season.

The coach selected an entirely different lineup, featuring four youngsters, in their final Conference League match. Yet, for the Arsenal clash, he conceded he will have "no option" but to select the majority of his first-choice side, which looked extremely jaded as they unusually let in four goals from set-pieces versus Leeds. "Must. Yes, must," he affirmed.

Arsenal's Viewpoint and Team Considerations

On Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the situation are different. The manager must balance his desire to win a second major trophy with considerable practicality. Last year, a muscle injury to Bukayo Saka sustained in a league game versus Palace just days after their Carabao Cup comeback significantly harmed their title hopes.

Arteta had made several changes for that League Cup tie but was compelled to introduce his "key players" after the break. Saka came off the bench to assist Jesus for a crucial goal in a move that left Glasner "furious" over a potential offside, with no VAR in operation—a scenario that will repeat again on Tuesday.

Arsenal have an eight-game unbeaten streak versus Palace, featuring seven wins. Gabriel Jesus, who scored a hat-trick in last season's League Cup meeting and two in a later league win before suffering a serious knee injury, looks set to begin for the first time since that setback. Arteta revealed the forward wrote a "touching" letter to his teammates about what football signifies to him.

"We're used to it," said Arteta on the busy fixture list. "I think this week was the sole full week we had to prepare. The rest until February at least is going to be like this. We have a beautiful chance to go into the last four of a competition so we will be ready."

Amid key players coming back from injury and a desire to progress, Arsenal present a formidable test for a Crystal Palace side desperately in need of rejuvenation as the festive period ramps up.