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One might forgive Oliver Glasner for preferring to enjoy a quiet few days with his family in Austria before Christmas, instead of preparing for Crystal Palace's twenty-ninth fixture of the season—a League Cup last-eight clash against Arsenal. Yet, the suggestion that Palace could focus on other competitions was firmly rejected by their manager.

"Absolutely not, I don't think so," declared Glasner after his team's side's 4-1 hammering to Leeds. "If anyone informs me that we are defeated deliberately, the next day I'm not the manager any more."

There is a clear contrast in Glasner's strategy to cup competitions versus his forerunner, Roy Hodgson. This initially became clear during Palace's journey to the Carabao Cup last eight in his debut complete campaign in command. Under Hodgson, the team had previously been knocked out from each of the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup when Glasner took over at Selhurst Park. Conversely, Glasner picked his best lineup for wins over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, setting up a encounter with Arsenal.

That prior quarter-final match concluded in a 3-2 loss at the Emirates Stadium, following a slightly controversial hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having been ahead at half-time. Almost exactly twelve months later, Glasner now faces the task to figure out a plan for revenge against the current Premier League leaders in a match that was moved to this week owing to European obligations.

The Cost of Success and European Exhaustion

Glasner has, in a way, been a victim of his own achievements. Guiding Palace to their first major trophy with a win in the FA Cup final has ushered in the demands of continental football for the first time. These demands are taking a toll on several fatigued squad members, many of whom have hardly enjoyed a break all term.

The manager selected an completely changed side, featuring four teenagers, in their final Conference League fixture. Yet, ahead of the Arsenal clash, he conceded he will have "little choice" but to select the majority of his preferred side, which appeared decidedly lethargic as they unusually conceded four goals from set-pieces versus Leeds. "Have to. Yes, have to," he affirmed.

Arsenal's Perspective and Team Considerations

On Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the circumstances are different. 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 only days after their Carabao Cup fightback greatly damaged their title aspirations.

Arteta had implemented a number of changes for that League Cup match but was compelled to introduce his "key players" after the break. Saka was introduced from the bench to set up Jesus for a decisive goal in a move that left Glasner "incensed" over a possible offside, with no VAR in operation—a situation that will repeat again on Tuesday.

Arsenal are on an eight-game unbeaten run versus Palace, featuring seven victories. Gabriel Jesus, who scored a hat-trick in the previous campaign's League Cup meeting and a brace in a subsequent league win before suffering a long-term knee injury, is expected to begin for the first time since that injury. Arteta disclosed the forward wrote a "beautiful" letter to his teammates about what football signifies to him.

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

Amid key players coming back from injury and a determination to advance, Arsenal pose a daunting test for a Crystal Palace side urgently in need of rejuvenation as the festive period intensifies.