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You could excuse Oliver Glasner for wishing to enjoy a restful period with his family in Austria before Christmas, instead of preparing for Crystal Palace's 29th match of the season—a League Cup quarter-final with Arsenal. Yet, the notion that Palace could prioritize other tournaments was quickly dismissed by their boss.

"Absolutely not, I don't think so," declared Glasner after his team's side's four-one loss to Leeds. "Should anyone tells me that we are defeated on purpose, the next day I'm not the manager anymore."

There exists a clear contrast in Glasner's strategy to cup tournaments relative to his predecessor, Roy Hodgson. This initially became clear during Palace's run to the Carabao Cup last eight in his first complete campaign in command. Under Hodgson, the team had already been eliminated from both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup by the time Glasner assumed control at Selhurst Park. Conversely, Glasner picked his strongest lineup for victories over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, paving the way for a showdown with Arsenal.

That previous quarter-final match concluded in a 3-2 loss at the Emirates Stadium, thanks to a rather controversial hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having been ahead at the interval. Now, Glasner must figure out a plan for payback against the present Premier League pace-setters in a match that was moved to this week owing to European obligations.

The Cost of Achievement and Continental Exhaustion

Glasner has, in a way, been a casualty of his own achievements. Leading Palace to their maiden major trophy with a win in the FA Cup final subsequently ushered in the rigors of continental football for the first time. These pressures are catching up with several weary squad members, many of whom have hardly had a break all term.

The manager fielded an completely changed lineup, featuring four teenagers, in their last Conference League fixture. Yet, for the Arsenal game, he admitted he will have "little choice" but to pick the bulk of his first-choice team, which appeared decidedly lethargic as they uncharacteristically let in four goals from set-pieces versus Leeds. "Must. Yes, must," he stated.

Arsenal's Viewpoint and Selection Considerations

On Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the circumstances are different. The boss must balance his ambition 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 damaged their title aspirations.

Arteta had made a number of changes for that League Cup tie but was forced to introduce his "big-hitters" following 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 be the case again on Tuesday.

Arsenal are on an eight-match unbeaten run versus Palace, including seven wins. Gabriel Jesus, who netted a hat-trick in the previous campaign's League Cup encounter and two in a subsequent league win before sustaining a serious knee injury, looks set to begin for the first time since that setback. Arteta disclosed the forward wrote a "beautiful" letter to his teammates about what football signifies to him.

"We're accustomed to it," said Arteta on the congested schedule. "In my view this week was the only complete week we had to prepare. The period until February at least is going to be like this. We have a beautiful opportunity to go into the last four of a tournament so we will be ready."

With important players coming back from injury and a desire to progress, Arsenal pose a formidable test for a Palace side urgently in need of rejuvenation as the holiday schedule intensifies.