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One might forgive Oliver Glasner for wishing to enjoy a quiet period with his loved ones in Austria ahead of Christmas, rather than preparing for Crystal Palace's twenty-ninth game of the season—a League Cup last-eight clash against Arsenal. However, the suggestion that Palace might focus on other competitions was swiftly rejected by their boss.

"Absolutely not, I don't think so," remarked Glasner following his team's side's four-one loss to Leeds. "If somebody tells me that we lose deliberately, the next day I'm not the manager any more."

There is a stark contrast in Glasner's philosophy to cup competitions compared to his forerunner, Roy Hodgson. This initially was evident during Palace's journey to the Carabao Cup last eight in his first full season in charge. Under Hodgson, the team had previously been knocked out from each of the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup by the time Glasner assumed control at Selhurst Park. In contrast, Glasner selected his best side for wins over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, setting up a encounter with Arsenal.

That previous quarter-final tie ended in a three-two loss at the Emirates Stadium, following a slightly controversial hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having led at half-time. Almost exactly twelve months later, Glasner must devise a plan for revenge against the current Premier League pace-setters in a match that was rescheduled to this week owing to European commitments.

A Price of Achievement and European Fatigue

Glasner has, in a sense, been a victim of his own achievements. Guiding Palace to their first major trophy with victory in the FA Cup final subsequently ushered in the rigors of European football for the first time. These demands are catching up with several weary players, many of whom have hardly enjoyed a break all season.

The manager fielded an entirely different team, featuring four teenagers, in their last Conference League fixture. Yet, for the Arsenal clash, he admitted he will have "little choice" but to select the majority of his first-choice team, which looked extremely jaded as they unusually conceded four goals from set-pieces against Leeds. "Have to. Yes, have to," he affirmed.

Arsenal's Viewpoint and Team Considerations

For Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the situation are distinct. The manager must balance his desire to win a second major trophy with extreme pragmatism. The previous season, a muscle injury to Bukayo Saka sustained in a league game versus Palace just days after their Carabao Cup comeback greatly damaged their title aspirations.

Arteta had implemented several changes for that cup tie but was compelled to bring on his "key players" following the break. Saka came off the bench to set up Jesus for a crucial goal in a passage of play that left Glasner "furious" over a possible offside, with no VAR available—a situation that will repeat again on Tuesday.

Arsenal are on an eight-match unbeaten run against Palace, featuring seven wins. Gabriel Jesus, who netted a hat-trick in the previous campaign's League Cup encounter and a brace in a later league win before sustaining a serious 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 means to him.

"We're used to it," commented Arteta on the busy fixture list. "In my view this week was the sole full week we had to get ready. The rest until February at least is will be similar. We have a beautiful opportunity to go into the last four of a competition so we will be ready."

With key players returning from injury and a desire to progress, Arsenal present a daunting test for a Palace side urgently in need of a spark as the holiday period ramps up.