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

"Absolutely not, I don't think so," stated Glasner after his team's side's four-one loss to Leeds. "If anyone tells me that we lose on purpose, the next day I'm no longer the manager anymore."

There is a stark contrast in Glasner's approach to cup tournaments relative to his predecessor, Roy Hodgson. This first became clear during Palace's run to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals in his first full season in charge. Under Hodgson, the club had previously been knocked out from both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup when Glasner took over at Selhurst Park. In contrast, Glasner selected his strongest lineup for wins over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, setting up a encounter with Arsenal.

That prior last-eight match concluded in a 3-2 defeat at the Emirates Stadium, thanks to a slightly debated hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having been ahead at the interval. Now, Glasner now faces the task to figure out a strategy for payback versus the current Premier League leaders in a fixture that was moved to this week because of European obligations.

The Cost of Success and European Fatigue

Glasner has, in a sense, been a victim of his own achievements. Leading Palace to their maiden major trophy with a win in the FA Cup final subsequently ushered in the challenges of continental football for the very first time. These demands are catching up with several exhausted squad members, many of whom have hardly had a rest all season.

The coach deployed an completely different side, including four youngsters, in their final Conference League fixture. However, for the Arsenal game, he conceded he will have "little choice" but to select the majority of his preferred side, which appeared extremely lethargic as they unusually let in four goals from set-pieces versus Leeds. "Must. Yes, have to," he affirmed.

The Gunners' Viewpoint and Selection Considerations

On Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the situation are distinct. The boss must balance his desire to win a another major trophy with considerable pragmatism. Last year, a muscle injury to Bukayo Saka sustained in a league game versus Palace just days after their Carabao Cup comeback greatly harmed their title aspirations.

Arteta had implemented a number of changes for that League Cup tie but was compelled to bring on his "key players" after the break. Saka came off the bench to assist Jesus for a decisive goal in a move that left Glasner "furious" over a potential offside, with no VAR available—a situation that will be the case again on Tuesday.

Arsenal have an eight-game unbeaten run against 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 sustaining a serious knee injury, is expected to start for the first time since that injury. Arteta revealed the striker wrote a "touching" letter to his teammates about what football signifies to him.

"We are accustomed to it," said Arteta on the busy schedule. "I think this week was the sole full week we had to prepare. The period until February at least is going to be like this. We have a wonderful chance to go into the semi-final of a tournament so we will be ready."

With key players returning from injury and a desire to advance, Arsenal present a formidable test for a Palace side urgently in need of a spark as the festive schedule ramps up.