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You could excuse Oliver Glasner for preferring to enjoy a quiet period with his loved ones in Austria before Christmas, instead of gearing up for Crystal Palace's twenty-ninth match of the season—a League Cup quarter-final against Arsenal. However, the suggestion that Palace could focus on other competitions was quickly rejected by their boss.

"Absolutely not, I do not believe that," stated Glasner after his team's side's four-one hammering to Leeds. "If anyone 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 domestic cup tournaments relative to his forerunner, Roy Hodgson. This initially was evident during Palace's run to the League Cup last eight in his debut complete campaign in command. Under Hodgson, the club had already been knocked out from each of the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup when Glasner assumed control at Selhurst Park. In contrast, Glasner fielded his first-choice side for victories over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, paving the way for a meeting with Arsenal.

That previous last-eight match concluded in a three-two loss at the Emirates Stadium, following a slightly debated hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having led at the interval. Now, Glasner must figure out a plan for payback versus the current Premier League leaders in a match that was moved to this week because of European commitments.

The Price of Achievement and European Fatigue

Glasner has, in a way, been a casualty of his own achievements. Leading Palace to their maiden major trophy with victory in the FA Cup final has brought the demands of European football for the very first time. These pressures are catching up with several weary players, many of whom have barely had a rest all season.

The manager selected an completely different lineup, featuring four teenagers, in their final Conference League fixture. However, ahead of the Arsenal game, he conceded he will have "little choice" but to pick the bulk of his first-choice side, which looked extremely lethargic as they uncharacteristically let in four goals from set-pieces against Leeds. "Must. Yes, must," he affirmed.

The Gunners' Perspective and Selection Dilemmas

On Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the circumstances are different. The manager must balance his desire to win a another major trophy with considerable pragmatism. Last year, a hamstring injury to Bukayo Saka suffered in a league game versus Palace just days after their Carabao Cup fightback greatly damaged their title aspirations.

Arteta had implemented several changes for that cup match but was compelled to introduce his "key players" following the break. Saka was introduced from the bench to assist Jesus for a crucial goal in a passage of play that left Glasner "incensed" over a potential offside, with no VAR in operation—a situation that will be the case again on Tuesday.

Arsenal are on an eight-match unbeaten streak against Palace, including seven wins. Gabriel Jesus, who scored a hat-trick in last season's League Cup meeting and a brace in a later league win before sustaining a long-term knee injury, looks set to start for the first since that setback. 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 congested schedule. "I think this week was the sole full week we had to prepare. The rest until February at least is going to be like this. We have a wonderful chance to go into the last four of a competition so we will be ready."

With key players coming back from injury and a desire to advance, Arsenal pose a daunting test for a Crystal Palace side urgently in need of rejuvenation as the holiday schedule intensifies.