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

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

There is a clear difference in Glasner's philosophy to cup tournaments relative to his forerunner, Roy Hodgson. This first became clear during Palace's run to the League Cup quarter-finals in his debut complete campaign in command. Under Hodgson, the team had already been eliminated from both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup when Glasner assumed control at Selhurst Park. In contrast, Glasner selected his first-choice side for wins over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, paving the way for a showdown with Arsenal.

That prior quarter-final tie 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 the interval. Almost exactly twelve months later, Glasner must figure out a strategy for revenge against the present Premier League leaders in a match that was rescheduled to this week owing to European obligations.

A Price of Achievement and Continental Exhaustion

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

The manager fielded an completely changed lineup, featuring four youngsters, in their final Conference League fixture. However, for the Arsenal clash, he admitted he will have "no option" but to choose the majority of his preferred team, which looked extremely jaded as they uncharacteristically let in four goals from set-pieces against Leeds. "Have to. Yes, have to," he affirmed.

Arsenal's Perspective and Selection Considerations

On Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the circumstances are distinct. The manager must balance his desire to win a second major trophy with considerable pragmatism. The previous season, a muscle injury to Bukayo Saka suffered in a league game against Palace just days after their Carabao Cup comeback significantly damaged their title hopes.

Arteta had made several changes for that League Cup match but was forced to introduce his "big-hitters" following the break. Saka came off the bench to set up Jesus for a crucial goal in a move that left Glasner "incensed" over a potential offside, with no VAR available—a situation that will repeat again on Tuesday.

Arsenal are on an eight-match winning streak against Palace, including seven victories. Gabriel Jesus, who netted a hat-trick in the previous campaign's League Cup meeting and a brace in a later league win before sustaining a long-term knee injury, looks set to begin for the first time since then setback. Arteta disclosed the striker wrote a "beautiful" letter to his teammates about what football means to him.

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

With important players returning from injury and a desire to progress, Arsenal present a formidable test for a Palace side urgently in need of rejuvenation as the festive period ramps up.