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You could excuse Oliver Glasner for wishing to spend a quiet few days with his loved ones in Austria before Christmas, rather than gearing up for Crystal Palace's 29th game of the campaign—a League Cup last-eight clash against Arsenal. However, the suggestion that Palace could focus on other tournaments was swiftly dismissed by their boss.

"Absolutely not, I do not believe that," remarked Glasner following his team's side's four-one loss to Leeds. "Should somebody informs me that we lose deliberately, the following day I'm no longer the manager anymore."

There exists a clear contrast in Glasner's approach to cup competitions versus his forerunner, 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 previously been eliminated from each of the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup when Glasner assumed control at Selhurst Park. Conversely, Glasner picked his first-choice side for victories over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, paving the way for a meeting with Arsenal.

That prior quarter-final tie concluded in a 3-2 loss at the Emirates Stadium, due to a somewhat controversial hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, despite Palace having led at the interval. Almost exactly twelve months later, Glasner must figure out a plan for revenge against the present Premier League leaders in a match that was moved to this week owing to European commitments.

A Price of Achievement and European Exhaustion

Glasner has, in a way, been a victim of his own success. Leading Palace to their first major trophy with a win in the FA Cup final has brought the challenges of European football for the very first time. These demands are catching up with some fatigued squad members, many of whom have barely enjoyed a rest all term.

The manager selected an completely changed lineup, including four youngsters, in their final Conference League fixture. Yet, ahead of the Arsenal game, he conceded he will have "little choice" but to choose the majority of his first-choice side, which looked extremely lethargic as they unusually let in four goals from set-pieces against Leeds. "Must. Yes, must," he affirmed.

Arsenal's Viewpoint and Team Considerations

On Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the situation are different. The manager must balance his ambition to win a another major trophy with extreme pragmatism. The previous season, a muscle injury to Bukayo Saka sustained in a league game versus Palace only days after their Carabao Cup fightback significantly harmed their title hopes.

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

Arsenal have an eight-game unbeaten streak against Palace, featuring seven victories. Gabriel Jesus, who netted a hat-trick in last season's League Cup meeting and a brace in a later league win before suffering a long-term knee injury, looks set to start for the first since then injury. Arteta revealed the forward wrote a "touching" letter to his teammates about what football signifies to him.

"We are used to it," said Arteta on the congested fixture list. "In my view this week was the sole complete week we had to prepare. The period until February at least is going to be like this. We have a beautiful chance to go into the semi-final of a tournament so we will be prepared."

With key players coming back from injury and a determination to progress, Arsenal present a formidable test for a Crystal Palace side urgently in need of a spark as the festive period ramps up.