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One might forgive Oliver Glasner for preferring to enjoy a quiet few days with his loved ones in Austria ahead of Christmas, instead of preparing for Crystal Palace's twenty-ninth game of the campaign—a League Cup quarter-final against Arsenal. Yet, the idea that Palace could prioritize other competitions was firmly rejected by their boss.

"No, I do not believe that," declared Glasner following his team's side's 4-1 hammering to Leeds. "Should anyone informs me that we are defeated deliberately, the following day I'm not the manager anymore."

There is a clear difference in Glasner's strategy to domestic cup competitions versus his forerunner, Roy Hodgson. This initially became clear during Palace's run to the League Cup quarter-finals in his first complete campaign in charge. Under Hodgson, the club had previously been knocked out from each of the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup by the time Glasner assumed control at Selhurst Park. In contrast, Glasner selected his best team for victories over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, paving the way for a showdown with Arsenal.

That prior last-eight match concluded in a three-two loss at the Emirates Stadium, due to a somewhat debated hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having been ahead at half-time. Now, Glasner must devise a strategy for revenge versus the present Premier League pace-setters in a match that was moved to this week owing to European commitments.

A Price of Success and European Fatigue

Glasner has, in a way, been a casualty of his own success. Guiding Palace to their maiden major trophy with a win in the FA Cup final subsequently brought the demands of continental football for the first time. These demands are catching up with several fatigued players, many of whom have hardly had a rest all term.

The manager deployed an completely different lineup, including four teenagers, in their final Conference League fixture. Yet, ahead of the Arsenal clash, he admitted he will have "little choice" but to pick the majority of his first-choice side, which appeared extremely lethargic as they unusually let in four goals from set-pieces against Leeds. "Have to. Yes, must," he affirmed.

Arsenal's Viewpoint and Team Considerations

For Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the situation are distinct. The manager must juggle his desire to win a another major trophy with considerable pragmatism. The previous season, a hamstring injury to Bukayo Saka sustained in a league game against Palace just days after their Carabao Cup comeback 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" following the break. Saka was introduced from the bench to assist Jesus for a crucial goal in a passage of play that left Glasner "incensed" over a possible offside, with no VAR available—a situation that will repeat again on Tuesday.

Arsenal are on an eight-game winning run against Palace, including seven victories. Gabriel Jesus, who netted a hat-trick in last season'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 then setback. Arteta disclosed the striker wrote a "beautiful" letter to his teammates about what football means to him.

"We are accustomed to it," said Arteta on the congested schedule. "I think this week was the only full week we had to prepare. The period until February at least is will be like this. We have a wonderful opportunity to go into the last four of a competition so we will be ready."

With key players coming back from injury and a determination to advance, Arsenal pose a formidable test for a Crystal Palace side urgently in need of a spark as the holiday period ramps up.