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You could forgive Oliver Glasner for wishing to enjoy a quiet few days with his family in Austria before Christmas, rather than preparing for Crystal Palace's twenty-ninth game of the campaign—a League Cup quarter-final with Arsenal. Yet, the idea that Palace could prioritize other competitions was swiftly dismissed by their boss.

"Absolutely not, I don't think so," remarked Glasner following his team's side's 4-1 hammering to Leeds. "If anyone informs me that we lose on purpose, the next day I'm no longer the manager any more."

There is a marked contrast in Glasner's philosophy to cup tournaments compared to his predecessor, Roy Hodgson. This first became clear during Palace's run to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals in his first full season in charge. Under Hodgson, the team had already been eliminated from each of the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup when Glasner assumed control at Selhurst Park. In contrast, Glasner fielded his best lineup for wins over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, setting up a meeting with Arsenal.

That previous last-eight match concluded in a three-two defeat at the Emirates Stadium, due to a somewhat controversial hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having led at half-time. Almost exactly twelve months later, Glasner must figure out a strategy for payback versus the current Premier League pace-setters in a fixture that was rescheduled to this week owing to European commitments.

The Price of Success and European Fatigue

Glasner has, in a way, been a casualty of his own achievements. Guiding Palace to their maiden major trophy with a win in the FA Cup final subsequently brought the rigors of European football for the very first time. These pressures are taking a toll on some weary players, many of whom have barely enjoyed a break all term.

The manager selected an entirely changed lineup, including four youngsters, in their final Conference League match. Yet, for the Arsenal clash, he conceded he will have "little choice" but to select the bulk of his first-choice team, which appeared extremely lethargic as they uncharacteristically conceded four goals from set-pieces versus Leeds. "Must. Yes, have to," he affirmed.

Arsenal's Perspective and Selection Considerations

For Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the circumstances are different. The manager must balance his desire to win a second major trophy with considerable pragmatism. The previous season, a muscle injury to Bukayo Saka sustained in a league game against Palace only days after their Carabao Cup comeback significantly harmed their title aspirations.

Arteta had made a number of changes for that cup match but was forced to introduce his "key players" after the break. Saka came off the bench to assist Jesus for a decisive goal in a move that left Glasner "incensed" over a potential offside, with no VAR in operation—a situation that will be the case again on Tuesday.

Arsenal have an eight-game unbeaten run versus Palace, including seven wins. Gabriel Jesus, who netted a hat-trick in last season's League Cup meeting and two in a subsequent league win before sustaining a long-term knee injury, looks set to start for the first time since that injury. Arteta revealed the striker 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. "I think this week was the only complete week we had to get ready. The period until February at least is will be like this. We have a beautiful chance to go into the semi-final of a competition so we will be prepared."

With key players returning from injury and a determination to progress, Arsenal pose a formidable test for a Palace side desperately in need of rejuvenation as the holiday schedule intensifies.