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You could excuse Oliver Glasner for preferring to spend a restful period with his loved ones in Austria before 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 swiftly dismissed by their head coach.

"Absolutely not, I do not believe that," stated Glasner after his team's side's four-one defeat to Leeds. "Should somebody informs me that we are defeated on purpose, the following day I'm not the coach anymore."

There exists a marked contrast in Glasner's strategy to cup tournaments versus his predecessor, Roy Hodgson. This first was evident during Palace's run to the League Cup last eight in his first full season in command. Under Hodgson, the club had already been eliminated from each of the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup by the time Glasner took over at Selhurst Park. In contrast, Glasner fielded his strongest team for wins over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, setting up a meeting with Arsenal.

That previous last-eight tie ended in a three-two loss at the Emirates Stadium, thanks to a slightly controversial hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having been ahead at the interval. Almost exactly twelve months later, Glasner must figure out a strategy for payback against the present Premier League pace-setters in a match that was moved to this week owing to European commitments.

The Cost of Success and Continental Fatigue

Glasner has, in a way, been a victim of his own success. Leading Palace to their maiden major trophy with a win in the FA Cup final subsequently ushered in the demands of European football for the first time. These demands are catching up with several exhausted players, many of whom have hardly enjoyed a break all term.

The manager deployed an completely different side, including four teenagers, in their last Conference League fixture. Yet, ahead of the Arsenal clash, he conceded he will have "no option" but to select the majority of his preferred team, which appeared 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 circumstances are distinct. The manager must juggle his desire to win a second major trophy with extreme practicality. The previous season, a muscle injury to Bukayo Saka sustained in a league game against Palace only days after their Carabao Cup comeback significantly damaged their title hopes.

Arteta had made a number of changes for that cup tie but was forced to bring on his "key players" following 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 possible offside, with no VAR in operation—a scenario that will repeat again on Tuesday.

Arsenal are on an eight-match winning streak against Palace, featuring seven wins. 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, is expected to start for the first time since that setback. Arteta revealed the forward wrote a "beautiful" letter to his teammates about what football means to him.

"We are used to it," said Arteta on the busy fixture list. "I think this week was the sole full week we had to prepare. The period until February at least is will be similar. We have a wonderful opportunity to go into the semi-final of a competition so we will be ready."

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