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You could forgive Oliver Glasner for preferring to spend a restful few days with his family in Austria ahead of Christmas, rather than gearing up for Crystal Palace's 29th fixture of the season—a League Cup last-eight clash with Arsenal. However, the suggestion that Palace could focus on other competitions was firmly rejected by their manager.

"No, I don't think so," remarked Glasner following his team's side's 4-1 hammering to Leeds. "Should somebody informs me that we lose deliberately, the following day I'm no longer the manager anymore."

There exists a stark contrast in Glasner's philosophy to domestic cup tournaments versus his forerunner, Roy Hodgson. This initially became clear during Palace's journey to the League Cup last eight in his debut full season in charge. Under Hodgson, the team had previously been knocked out from each of the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup when Glasner took over at Selhurst Park. In contrast, Glasner fielded his strongest side for wins over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, setting up a meeting with Arsenal.

That prior last-eight tie concluded in a three-two loss at the Emirates Stadium, due to a rather debated hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having been ahead at half-time. Almost exactly twelve months later, Glasner must figure out a strategy for revenge versus the present Premier League pace-setters in a match that was moved to this week owing to European obligations.

The Cost of Success and Continental Exhaustion

Glasner has, in a way, been a casualty of his own achievements. Leading Palace to their first major trophy with a win in the FA Cup final subsequently brought the demands of European football for the first time. These demands are catching up with several fatigued squad members, many of whom have barely had a rest all season.

The manager deployed an entirely different lineup, including four youngsters, in their final Conference League fixture. Yet, for the Arsenal clash, he conceded he will have "little choice" but to choose the bulk of his preferred team, which looked decidedly jaded as they uncharacteristically let in four goals from set-pieces versus Leeds. "Have to. Yes, have to," he said.

The Gunners' Perspective and Team Considerations

On Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the situation are different. The boss must juggle his desire to win a another major trophy with considerable pragmatism. The previous season, a muscle injury to Bukayo Saka suffered in a league game versus Palace only days after their Carabao Cup comeback greatly damaged their title hopes.

Arteta had made a number of changes for that League Cup match but was forced to bring on his "big-hitters" following the break. Saka was introduced from the bench to assist Jesus for a decisive goal in a passage of play that left Glasner "furious" over a possible offside, with no VAR available—a situation that will repeat again on Tuesday.

Arsenal have an eight-match winning run versus Palace, featuring seven wins. Gabriel Jesus, who scored a hat-trick in the previous campaign's League Cup meeting and a brace in a later league win before sustaining a long-term knee injury, looks set to begin for the first time since that injury. Arteta disclosed the striker wrote a "beautiful" letter to his teammates about what football signifies to him.

"We are accustomed to it," commented Arteta on the congested fixture list. "I think this week was the only full 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 competition so we will be prepared."

Amid key players returning from injury and a determination to advance, Arsenal present a daunting challenge for a Palace side desperately in need of rejuvenation as the festive period intensifies.