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One might excuse Oliver Glasner for preferring to enjoy a quiet period with his loved ones in Austria ahead of Christmas, instead of preparing for Crystal Palace's twenty-ninth match of the campaign—a League Cup quarter-final against Arsenal. However, the idea that Palace could prioritize other tournaments was quickly rejected by their manager.

"No, I don't think so," stated Glasner following his team's side's 4-1 loss to Leeds. "Should anyone tells me that we lose deliberately, the following day I'm not the coach any more."

There is a stark difference in Glasner's philosophy to cup competitions relative to his forerunner, Roy Hodgson. This initially became clear during Palace's run to the League Cup quarter-finals in his debut full season in command. Under Hodgson, the team had previously been knocked out from each of the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup when Glasner assumed control at Selhurst Park. Conversely, Glasner picked his strongest side for victories over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, setting up a encounter with Arsenal.

That previous quarter-final tie ended in a 3-2 defeat at the Emirates Stadium, following a somewhat debated hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having led at half-time. Now, Glasner must figure out a strategy for payback versus the current Premier League pace-setters in a match that was moved to this week because of European obligations.

A Cost of Success and European Exhaustion

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

The coach fielded an entirely changed team, including four teenagers, in their final Conference League match. However, ahead of the Arsenal clash, he admitted he will have "no option" but to choose the majority of his first-choice team, which appeared extremely jaded as they uncharacteristically conceded four goals from set-pieces against Leeds. "Must. Yes, must," he stated.

Arsenal's Perspective and Team Dilemmas

On Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the situation are distinct. The manager must juggle his desire to win a second major trophy with extreme pragmatism. Last year, a hamstring injury to Bukayo Saka suffered in a league game against Palace only days after their Carabao Cup comeback greatly damaged their title aspirations.

Arteta had made several changes for that League Cup tie but was compelled to introduce his "big-hitters" after the break. Saka was introduced from the bench to assist Jesus for a crucial goal in a move that left Glasner "incensed" over a possible offside, with no VAR available—a situation that will repeat again on Tuesday.

Arsenal have an eight-match unbeaten streak versus Palace, including seven wins. Gabriel Jesus, who scored a hat-trick in last season's League Cup meeting and two in a subsequent league win before suffering a long-term knee injury, looks set to start for the first time since that injury. Arteta disclosed the striker 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 sole complete week we had to prepare. The rest until February at least is will be like this. We have a wonderful chance to go into the semi-final of a tournament so we will be ready."

Amid key players coming back from injury and a desire to progress, Arsenal present a formidable test for a Crystal Palace side urgently in need of rejuvenation as the holiday schedule ramps up.