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One might forgive Oliver Glasner for wishing to spend a quiet period with his loved ones in Austria ahead of Christmas, instead of preparing for Crystal Palace's 29th game of the campaign—a League Cup quarter-final with Arsenal. However, the idea that Palace could focus on other tournaments was quickly dismissed by their manager.

"No, I don't think so," declared Glasner after his team's side's four-one 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 stark contrast in Glasner's philosophy to cup competitions relative to his predecessor, Roy Hodgson. This first became clear during Palace's journey to the League Cup last eight in his debut complete campaign in charge. Under Hodgson, the team had already been knocked out from each of the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup when Glasner took over at Selhurst Park. In contrast, Glasner selected his first-choice team for wins over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, paving the way for a encounter with Arsenal.

That previous quarter-final tie concluded in a 3-2 defeat at the Emirates Stadium, following a somewhat controversial hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having been ahead at the interval. Now, Glasner must devise a strategy for revenge against the current Premier League pace-setters in a match that was moved to this week because of European obligations.

A Price of Success and European Exhaustion

Glasner has, in a sense, been a victim of his own success. Guiding Palace to their first major trophy with a win in the FA Cup final subsequently ushered in the demands of continental football for the very first time. These demands are catching up with some exhausted players, many of whom have barely enjoyed a rest all term.

The manager selected an completely changed lineup, featuring four youngsters, in their final Conference League fixture. Yet, for the Arsenal game, he conceded he will have "little choice" but to pick the majority of his preferred team, which appeared decidedly lethargic as they uncharacteristically conceded four goals from set-pieces versus Leeds. "Have to. Yes, must," he affirmed.

Arsenal's Viewpoint and Selection Considerations

On Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the circumstances are different. The boss must balance his ambition to win a second major trophy with extreme pragmatism. Last year, a hamstring 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 implemented a number of changes for that League Cup match but was forced to introduce his "big-hitters" following the break. Saka was introduced from the bench to assist Jesus for a crucial goal in a move that left Glasner "incensed" over a potential offside, with no VAR available—a scenario that will be the case again on Tuesday.

Arsenal are on an eight-match winning streak against Palace, featuring seven wins. Gabriel Jesus, who scored a hat-trick in last season's League Cup encounter and two in a later league win before suffering a long-term knee injury, is expected to start for the first time since then setback. Arteta revealed the forward wrote a "beautiful" letter to his teammates about what football signifies to him.

"We are used to it," said Arteta on the congested schedule. "In my view this week was the only 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 tournament so we will be ready."

With important players returning from injury and a determination to advance, Arsenal present a daunting challenge for a Palace side urgently in need of rejuvenation as the festive period ramps up.