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You could forgive Oliver Glasner for preferring to enjoy a quiet period with his loved ones in Austria before Christmas, rather than gearing up for Crystal Palace's 29th match of the season—a League Cup quarter-final with Arsenal. However, the notion that Palace might prioritize other competitions was quickly dismissed by their boss.

"Absolutely not, I don't think so," remarked Glasner after his team's side's four-one hammering to Leeds. "Should anyone informs me that we lose deliberately, the following day I'm not the coach anymore."

There exists a marked contrast in Glasner's philosophy to cup tournaments compared to his forerunner, Roy Hodgson. This initially became clear during Palace's journey to the League Cup last eight in his debut complete campaign in charge. Under Hodgson, the club had already been knocked out from both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup when Glasner took over at Selhurst Park. Conversely, Glasner selected his strongest team for victories over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, paving the way for a meeting with Arsenal.

That previous last-eight match ended in a 3-2 loss at the Emirates Stadium, due to a somewhat controversial hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having led at half-time. Almost exactly twelve months later, Glasner now faces the task to devise a plan for payback against the present Premier League leaders in a match that was rescheduled to this week because of European obligations.

The Price of Success and Continental 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 subsequently brought the rigors of European football for the very first time. These pressures are catching up with some exhausted squad members, many of whom have barely enjoyed a break all term.

The manager deployed an completely different team, including four teenagers, in their last Conference League match. Yet, for the Arsenal game, he conceded he will have "no option" but to pick the bulk of his preferred team, which appeared extremely jaded as they unusually conceded four goals from set-pieces against Leeds. "Must. Yes, have to," he affirmed.

Arsenal's Perspective and Team Dilemmas

For Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the situation are distinct. The manager must juggle his desire to win a another major trophy with extreme pragmatism. The previous season, a muscle injury to Bukayo Saka suffered in a league game against Palace only days after their Carabao Cup comeback greatly harmed their title aspirations.

Arteta had made a number of changes for that cup tie but was forced to bring on his "big-hitters" after the break. Saka came off the bench to set up Jesus for a crucial goal in a move that left Glasner "incensed" over a potential offside, with no VAR in operation—a scenario that will repeat again on Tuesday.

Arsenal are on an eight-game winning streak versus Palace, featuring seven wins. Gabriel Jesus, who netted a hat-trick in last season's League Cup encounter and two in a later league win before sustaining a long-term knee injury, is expected to start for the first time since then injury. Arteta revealed the forward wrote a "beautiful" letter to his teammates about what football signifies to him.

"We are used to it," said Arteta on the congested schedule. "In my view 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 chance to go into the last four of a tournament so we will be ready."

With key players returning from injury and a desire to advance, Arsenal pose a daunting test for a Crystal Palace side urgently in need of rejuvenation as the holiday schedule intensifies.