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You could excuse Oliver Glasner for preferring to enjoy a quiet period with his loved ones in Austria before Christmas, instead of gearing up for Crystal Palace's 29th match of the campaign—a League Cup quarter-final against Arsenal. Yet, the suggestion that Palace might focus on other competitions was firmly dismissed by their manager.

"No, I do not believe that," declared Glasner following his team's side's four-one loss to Leeds. "If anyone informs me that we are defeated on purpose, the next day I'm no longer the coach any more."

There is a clear contrast in Glasner's strategy to domestic cup tournaments versus his forerunner, Roy Hodgson. This first was evident during Palace's run to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals in his first full season in charge. Under Hodgson, the team had previously been knocked out from both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup by the time Glasner assumed control at Selhurst Park. Conversely, Glasner selected his best team for wins over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, setting up a showdown with Arsenal.

That previous last-eight tie ended in a three-two defeat at the Emirates Stadium, thanks to a slightly controversial hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, despite Palace having been ahead at the interval. Now, Glasner must devise a plan for payback versus the present Premier League pace-setters in a match that was moved to this week owing to European commitments.

The 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 has ushered in the demands of European football for the first time. These pressures are taking a toll on some weary squad members, many of whom have barely had a break all season.

The manager deployed an completely different side, including four teenagers, in their final Conference League fixture. However, for the Arsenal game, he admitted he will have "little choice" but to select the bulk of his preferred team, which appeared extremely lethargic as they uncharacteristically let in four goals from set-pieces versus Leeds. "Have to. Yes, have to," he stated.

Arsenal's Perspective and Team Dilemmas

On Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the situation are different. The manager must balance his desire to win a another major trophy with extreme practicality. The previous season, a muscle injury to Bukayo Saka sustained in a league game versus Palace just days after their Carabao Cup comeback greatly harmed their title hopes.

Arteta had implemented several changes for that League Cup match but was forced to bring on his "big-hitters" after 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 potential offside, with no VAR in operation—a scenario that will repeat again on Tuesday.

Arsenal are on an eight-match unbeaten run against Palace, including seven victories. Gabriel Jesus, who scored a hat-trick in the previous campaign's League Cup meeting and a brace in a subsequent league win before suffering a long-term knee injury, looks set to begin for the first time since then setback. Arteta disclosed the forward wrote a "beautiful" letter to his teammates about what football means to him.

"We are used to it," said Arteta on the busy schedule. "I think this week was the only 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 last four of a tournament so we will be prepared."

With key players returning from injury and a desire to advance, Arsenal present a daunting challenge for a Crystal Palace side desperately in need of rejuvenation as the festive schedule ramps up.