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One might excuse Oliver Glasner for wishing to spend a restful period with his loved ones in Austria ahead of Christmas, rather than preparing for Crystal Palace's 29th game of the season—a League Cup last-eight clash against Arsenal. However, the notion that Palace could prioritize other competitions was quickly dismissed by their manager.

"Absolutely not, I don't think so," stated Glasner following his team's side's four-one loss to Leeds. "If anyone tells me that we lose deliberately, the following day I'm no longer the coach any more."

There exists a stark difference in Glasner's philosophy to cup tournaments versus his predecessor, Roy Hodgson. This initially became clear during Palace's journey to the Carabao Cup last eight in his first complete campaign in charge. Under Hodgson, the team had already been eliminated from each of the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup when Glasner took over at Selhurst Park. In contrast, Glasner selected his strongest side for victories over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, setting up a showdown with Arsenal.

That previous last-eight tie ended in a 3-2 defeat at the Emirates Stadium, due to a rather controversial hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having led at the interval. Almost exactly twelve months later, Glasner must figure out a strategy for payback against the current Premier League leaders in a match that was moved to this week because of European obligations.

A Price of Success and European Exhaustion

Glasner has, in a sense, been a victim of his own achievements. Guiding Palace to their first major trophy with a win in the FA Cup final has brought the rigors of European football for the very first time. These pressures are catching up with some fatigued squad members, many of whom have hardly enjoyed a break all season.

The coach deployed an completely different side, featuring four teenagers, in their last Conference League fixture. However, ahead of the Arsenal game, he admitted he will have "little choice" but to choose the majority of his preferred side, which appeared extremely jaded as they uncharacteristically conceded four goals from set-pieces against Leeds. "Have to. Yes, must," he stated.

The Gunners' Viewpoint 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 extreme practicality. The previous season, a muscle injury to Bukayo Saka suffered in a league game versus Palace only days after their Carabao Cup fightback greatly damaged their title hopes.

Arteta had implemented a number of changes for that cup tie but was forced to bring on 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 in operation—a situation that will be the case again on Tuesday.

Arsenal have an eight-game unbeaten run versus Palace, including seven wins. Gabriel Jesus, who scored a hat-trick in last season's League Cup meeting and a brace in a later league win before suffering a serious knee injury, looks set to begin for the first since then injury. Arteta disclosed the striker wrote a "beautiful" letter to his teammates about what football means to him.

"We're used to it," commented Arteta on the busy schedule. "I think this week was the only complete week we had to get ready. The rest until February at least is going to be similar. We have a wonderful opportunity to go into the last four of a competition so we will be ready."

With important players returning from injury and a determination to progress, Arsenal present a formidable challenge for a Crystal Palace side desperately in need of rejuvenation as the festive schedule ramps up.