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One might forgive Oliver Glasner for preferring to spend a quiet few days with his family in Austria ahead of Christmas, rather than gearing up for Crystal Palace's twenty-ninth game of the season—a League Cup last-eight clash against Arsenal. However, the suggestion that Palace might prioritize other tournaments was swiftly dismissed by their boss.

"Absolutely not, I don't think so," declared Glasner following his team's side's four-one defeat to Leeds. "If anyone informs me that we are defeated on purpose, the following day I'm not the manager any more."

There is a clear contrast in Glasner's philosophy to domestic cup tournaments compared to his forerunner, Roy Hodgson. This first was evident during Palace's journey to the League Cup last eight in his debut complete campaign in command. Under Hodgson, the club had previously been eliminated from both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup by the time Glasner assumed control at Selhurst Park. Conversely, Glasner picked his strongest lineup for wins over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, setting up a showdown with Arsenal.

That prior last-eight tie concluded in a 3-2 loss at the Emirates Stadium, due to a somewhat controversial hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having led at half-time. Now, Glasner must figure out a strategy for payback against the current Premier League leaders in a match that was moved to this week owing to European commitments.

A Cost of Success and Continental Exhaustion

Glasner has, in a sense, been a casualty of his own achievements. Leading Palace to their first 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 weary squad members, many of whom have hardly enjoyed a rest all term.

The manager deployed an completely changed lineup, including four teenagers, in their last Conference League match. However, for the Arsenal game, he admitted he will have "no option" but to select the bulk of his first-choice team, which looked extremely jaded as they uncharacteristically let in four goals from set-pieces versus Leeds. "Have to. Yes, must," he stated.

Arsenal's Viewpoint and Team Considerations

On Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the circumstances are different. The boss must juggle his desire to win a another major trophy with considerable pragmatism. The previous season, a hamstring injury to Bukayo Saka sustained in a league game versus Palace just days after their Carabao Cup comeback significantly damaged their title hopes.

Arteta had implemented a number of changes for that League Cup tie but was forced to bring on his "key players" after the break. Saka came off the bench to set up Jesus for a crucial goal in a passage of play that left Glasner "furious" over a possible offside, with no VAR in operation—a scenario that will repeat again on Tuesday.

Arsenal are on an eight-game unbeaten streak against Palace, featuring seven victories. Gabriel Jesus, who netted a hat-trick in the previous campaign's League Cup meeting and two in a subsequent league win before suffering a serious knee injury, is expected to start for the first time since then injury. Arteta disclosed the striker wrote a "beautiful" letter to his teammates about what football means to him.

"We are used to it," said Arteta on the busy schedule. "In my view this week was the only complete week we had to prepare. The period until February at least is will be similar. We have a wonderful opportunity to go into the last four of a competition so we will be prepared."

With important players coming back from injury and a desire to progress, Arsenal pose a formidable challenge for a Crystal Palace side desperately in need of a spark as the holiday period ramps up.