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You could forgive Oliver Glasner for preferring to enjoy a restful period with his family in Austria ahead of Christmas, instead of preparing for Crystal Palace's 29th fixture of the campaign—a League Cup quarter-final with Arsenal. Yet, the idea that Palace could focus on other competitions was firmly dismissed by their manager.

"No, I do not believe that," remarked Glasner following his team's side's four-one hammering to Leeds. "If anyone tells me that we lose deliberately, the next day I'm not the coach anymore."

There is a marked difference in Glasner's philosophy to cup competitions versus his forerunner, Roy Hodgson. This first became clear during Palace's journey to the Carabao Cup last eight in his debut full season in charge. Under Hodgson, the club had already been eliminated from both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup by the time Glasner took over at Selhurst Park. In contrast, Glasner picked his first-choice side for victories over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, setting up a meeting with Arsenal.

That previous last-eight match ended in a 3-2 defeat at the Emirates Stadium, due to a slightly debated 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 present Premier League leaders in a match that was rescheduled to this week because of European obligations.

The Cost of Achievement and European Fatigue

Glasner has, in a sense, been a victim of his own achievements. Leading Palace to their maiden major trophy with a win in the FA Cup final subsequently ushered in the rigors of continental football for the very first time. These demands are catching up with some weary players, many of whom have hardly enjoyed a rest all term.

The manager fielded an completely changed side, featuring four youngsters, in their final Conference League match. However, ahead of the Arsenal clash, he admitted he will have "no option" but to pick the bulk of his first-choice side, which appeared extremely jaded as they unusually let in four goals from set-pieces against Leeds. "Must. Yes, have to," he affirmed.

Arsenal's Viewpoint and Selection Considerations

For Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the situation are different. The manager must balance his desire to win a another major trophy with considerable practicality. Last year, a muscle injury to Bukayo Saka sustained in a league game versus Palace only days after their Carabao Cup comeback greatly damaged their title aspirations.

Arteta had made several changes for that cup match but was compelled to introduce his "big-hitters" following the break. Saka was introduced from the bench to set up Jesus for a crucial goal in a move that left Glasner "incensed" over a possible offside, with no VAR available—a situation that will be the case again on Tuesday.

Arsenal have an eight-game winning run against Palace, featuring seven wins. Gabriel Jesus, who netted a hat-trick in last season's League Cup encounter and two in a subsequent league win before suffering a serious knee injury, looks set to start for the first since that setback. Arteta disclosed the forward wrote a "touching" letter to his teammates about what football signifies to him.

"We are accustomed to it," said Arteta on the busy fixture list. "In my view this week was the only complete week we had to prepare. The rest 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 prepared."

Amid important players coming back from injury and a determination to advance, Arsenal pose a daunting challenge for a Palace side desperately in need of rejuvenation as the festive period ramps up.