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You could excuse Oliver Glasner for wishing to spend a quiet period with his family in Austria before Christmas, instead of preparing for Crystal Palace's 29th game of the season—a League Cup last-eight clash with Arsenal. Yet, the notion that Palace could prioritize other tournaments was firmly dismissed by their head coach.

"Absolutely not, I do not believe that," remarked Glasner following his team's side's 4-1 loss to Leeds. "Should somebody informs me that we lose deliberately, the following day I'm no longer the manager any more."

There is a marked difference in Glasner's strategy to cup tournaments relative to his predecessor, Roy Hodgson. This initially became clear during Palace's journey to the League Cup last eight in his debut complete campaign in command. Under Hodgson, the club had previously been knocked out from both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup when Glasner assumed control at Selhurst Park. In contrast, Glasner selected his first-choice team for victories over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, setting up a encounter with Arsenal.

That previous quarter-final match concluded in a 3-2 defeat at the Emirates Stadium, following a rather controversial hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having led at half-time. Now, Glasner must figure out a plan for payback against the present Premier League pace-setters in a fixture that was moved to this week owing to European obligations.

A Cost of Achievement and European Fatigue

Glasner has, in a way, been a victim of his own achievements. Guiding Palace to their maiden major trophy with victory in the FA Cup final subsequently brought the demands of European football for the first time. These pressures are taking a toll on several exhausted squad members, many of whom have barely enjoyed a break all season.

The coach fielded an completely different team, including four teenagers, in their last Conference League match. Yet, for the Arsenal game, he admitted he will have "no option" but to pick the bulk of his preferred team, which appeared extremely lethargic as they uncharacteristically conceded four goals from set-pieces versus Leeds. "Have to. Yes, must," he affirmed.

The Gunners' Perspective and Team Dilemmas

For Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the circumstances are different. The boss must balance his desire to win a another major trophy with extreme practicality. Last year, a muscle injury to Bukayo Saka suffered in a league game versus Palace just days after their Carabao Cup comeback significantly damaged their title aspirations.

Arteta had implemented a number of changes for that cup match but was compelled to bring on his "big-hitters" after the break. Saka was introduced from the bench to set up Jesus for a decisive goal in a passage of play that left Glasner "incensed" over a potential offside, with no VAR available—a situation that will be the case again on Tuesday.

Arsenal have an eight-game unbeaten run against Palace, including seven wins. Gabriel Jesus, who netted a hat-trick in last season's League Cup encounter and a brace in a subsequent league win before suffering a long-term knee injury, is expected to begin for the first since then setback. Arteta revealed the forward wrote a "touching" letter to his teammates about what football means to him.

"We are used to it," commented Arteta on the busy schedule. "In my view this week was the sole complete week we had to get ready. The period until February at least is will be like this. We have a wonderful opportunity to go into the last four of a competition so we will be prepared."

With key players coming back from injury and a determination to progress, Arsenal pose a formidable test for a Palace side desperately in need of a spark as the festive period intensifies.