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One might forgive Oliver Glasner for wishing to spend a restful period with his loved ones in Austria before Christmas, rather than gearing up for Crystal Palace's 29th match of the campaign—a League Cup last-eight clash with Arsenal. However, the idea that Palace could prioritize other competitions was swiftly rejected by their manager.

"No, I don't think so," declared Glasner following his team's side's 4-1 loss to Leeds. "Should somebody tells me that we lose deliberately, the following day I'm not the coach anymore."

There is a clear contrast in Glasner's philosophy to domestic cup competitions versus his forerunner, Roy Hodgson. This first became clear during Palace's run to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals in his first complete campaign in command. Under Hodgson, the team had already been eliminated from each of the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup when Glasner took over at Selhurst Park. Conversely, Glasner picked his first-choice team for wins over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, setting up a meeting with Arsenal.

That previous quarter-final match concluded in a 3-2 defeat at the Emirates Stadium, following a slightly debated hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, despite Palace having been ahead at the interval. Now, Glasner must figure out a strategy for payback versus the present Premier League leaders in a match that was rescheduled to this week because of European obligations.

The Price of Achievement and European Exhaustion

Glasner has, in a sense, been a casualty of his own success. Guiding Palace to their first major trophy with a win in the FA Cup final has brought the challenges of continental football for the very first time. These pressures are taking a toll on some exhausted players, many of whom have hardly enjoyed a break all term.

The coach fielded an completely changed team, including four teenagers, in their final Conference League match. However, ahead of the Arsenal clash, he conceded he will have "no option" but to pick the majority of his preferred team, which appeared decidedly lethargic as they unusually let in four goals from set-pieces against Leeds. "Must. Yes, must," he affirmed.

The Gunners' Viewpoint and Selection Considerations

On Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the circumstances are different. The boss must juggle his desire to win a another major trophy with considerable 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 damaged their title aspirations.

Arteta had made several changes for that League Cup match but was forced to introduce his "big-hitters" after the break. Saka came off the bench to assist Jesus for a decisive goal in a move that left Glasner "incensed" over a potential offside, with no VAR in operation—a situation that will repeat again on Tuesday.

Arsenal have an eight-match unbeaten streak versus Palace, including seven wins. Gabriel Jesus, who scored a hat-trick in last season's League Cup encounter and two in a subsequent league win before suffering a long-term knee injury, is expected to start for the first time since then injury. Arteta disclosed the forward wrote a "beautiful" letter to his teammates about what football signifies to him.

"We're used to it," said Arteta on the busy schedule. "In my view this week was the sole full week we had to get ready. The period until February at least is will be similar. We have a beautiful chance to go into the semi-final of a tournament so we will be ready."

With important players returning from injury and a desire to progress, Arsenal pose a formidable test for a Crystal Palace side urgently in need of rejuvenation as the festive period intensifies.