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One might forgive Oliver Glasner for preferring to enjoy a quiet period with his loved ones in Austria ahead of Christmas, rather than preparing for Crystal Palace's 29th match of the campaign—a League Cup last-eight clash against Arsenal. However, the notion that Palace could prioritize other competitions was firmly dismissed by their boss.

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

There is a stark difference in Glasner's philosophy to domestic cup tournaments versus his predecessor, Roy Hodgson. This first became clear during Palace's run to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals in his first full season in command. Under Hodgson, the club had already been eliminated from both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup when Glasner assumed control at Selhurst Park. Conversely, Glasner selected his strongest lineup for wins over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, paving the way for a showdown with Arsenal.

That previous quarter-final match concluded in a three-two loss at the Emirates Stadium, due to a slightly debated hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, despite Palace having been ahead at half-time. Now, Glasner now faces the task to figure out a plan for payback versus the present Premier League pace-setters in a match that was moved to this week owing to European obligations.

The Price of Success and European Exhaustion

Glasner has, in a way, been a casualty of his own success. Guiding Palace to their first major trophy with victory in the FA Cup final has ushered in the challenges of continental football for the very first time. These pressures are taking a toll on several fatigued players, many of whom have barely enjoyed a break all term.

The manager fielded an entirely different lineup, featuring four youngsters, 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 first-choice side, which appeared extremely lethargic as they unusually conceded four goals from set-pieces against Leeds. "Must. Yes, must," he stated.

Arsenal's Perspective and Selection Dilemmas

On Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the circumstances are distinct. The manager must juggle his ambition to win a another major trophy with extreme practicality. The previous season, a muscle injury to Bukayo Saka suffered in a league game against Palace just days after their Carabao Cup fightback significantly harmed their title hopes.

Arteta had implemented a number of changes for that League Cup match but was compelled to introduce his "big-hitters" following the break. Saka came off the bench to assist Jesus for a decisive goal in a passage of play that left Glasner "incensed" over a potential offside, with no VAR in operation—a scenario that will be the case again on Tuesday.

Arsenal are on an eight-match unbeaten streak 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 subsequent league win before sustaining a long-term knee injury, looks set to begin for the first 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 schedule. "In my view this week was the only full week we had to get ready. The rest until February at least is will be like this. We have a beautiful opportunity to go into the last four of a tournament so we will be prepared."

With key players returning from injury and a determination to progress, Arsenal pose a formidable test for a Palace side desperately in need of rejuvenation as the festive period ramps up.