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One might 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 29th game of the season—a League Cup last-eight clash against Arsenal. However, the suggestion that Palace could focus on other competitions was quickly rejected by their manager.

"Absolutely not, I do not believe that," stated Glasner after his team's side's 4-1 hammering to Leeds. "Should somebody informs me that we are defeated on purpose, the next day I'm not the manager any more."

There is a marked contrast in Glasner's philosophy to cup competitions compared to his forerunner, Roy Hodgson. This first became clear during Palace's run to the League Cup last eight in his first full season in charge. Under Hodgson, the team had previously been knocked out from both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup by the time Glasner assumed control at Selhurst Park. Conversely, Glasner fielded his best team for victories over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, paving the way for a meeting with Arsenal.

That previous quarter-final match concluded in a 3-2 loss at the Emirates Stadium, following a rather controversial hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, despite Palace having been ahead at the interval. Now, Glasner must figure out a strategy for revenge against the present Premier League pace-setters in a match that was moved to this week because of European commitments.

The Price of Success and Continental Exhaustion

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

The coach deployed an completely different side, including four teenagers, in their final Conference League fixture. However, ahead of the Arsenal clash, he admitted he will have "little choice" but to choose the bulk of his first-choice team, which looked extremely lethargic as they unusually conceded four goals from set-pieces against Leeds. "Must. Yes, have to," he stated.

Arsenal's Viewpoint and Selection Considerations

On Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the situation are different. The boss must balance his ambition to win a another major trophy with considerable practicality. The previous season, a muscle injury to Bukayo Saka sustained in a league game versus Palace only days after their Carabao Cup comeback significantly harmed their title hopes.

Arteta had implemented a number of changes for that cup tie but was compelled to introduce his "key players" after the break. Saka was introduced from the bench to assist Jesus for a crucial goal in a move that left Glasner "furious" over a potential offside, with no VAR available—a scenario that will be the case again on Tuesday.

Arsenal have an eight-match unbeaten streak against Palace, including seven victories. Gabriel Jesus, who scored a hat-trick in the previous campaign's League Cup meeting and two in a subsequent league win before suffering a long-term knee injury, is expected 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," said Arteta on the congested schedule. "In my view this week was the sole complete week we had to prepare. The rest until February at least is will be similar. We have a wonderful chance to go into the last four of a competition so we will be ready."

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