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One might excuse Oliver Glasner for wishing to enjoy a restful few days with his loved ones in Austria before Christmas, instead of preparing for Crystal Palace's 29th match of the campaign—a League Cup quarter-final with Arsenal. Yet, the idea that Palace might focus on other tournaments was swiftly rejected by their boss.

"No, I do not believe that," remarked Glasner after his team's side's 4-1 loss to Leeds. "If somebody tells me that we are defeated on purpose, the following day I'm not the manager anymore."

There is a stark contrast in Glasner's approach to domestic cup tournaments compared to his forerunner, Roy Hodgson. This initially became clear during Palace's journey to the League Cup quarter-finals in his first complete campaign in command. Under Hodgson, the club had already been knocked out from both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup when Glasner assumed control at Selhurst Park. In contrast, Glasner picked his strongest team for wins over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, paving the way for a showdown with Arsenal.

That prior quarter-final match ended in a three-two defeat at the Emirates Stadium, thanks to a somewhat controversial hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having led at the interval. Now, Glasner now faces the task to figure out a plan for payback versus the present Premier League leaders in a fixture that was rescheduled to this week owing to European obligations.

A Cost of Achievement and Continental Fatigue

Glasner has, in a way, been a victim of his own achievements. Guiding Palace to their maiden major trophy with victory in the FA Cup final has ushered in the rigors of continental football for the very first time. These pressures are taking a toll on some fatigued squad members, many of whom have barely had a rest all season.

The coach selected an entirely different team, featuring four teenagers, in their last Conference League fixture. Yet, ahead of the Arsenal game, he conceded he will have "little choice" but to select the majority of his preferred side, which looked extremely jaded as they unusually let in four goals from set-pieces versus Leeds. "Have to. Yes, must," he affirmed.

Arsenal's Viewpoint and Selection Dilemmas

On Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the circumstances are different. The manager must balance his ambition to win a another major trophy with considerable practicality. Last year, a hamstring injury to Bukayo Saka sustained in a league game versus Palace just days after their Carabao Cup fightback significantly damaged their title aspirations.

Arteta had made several changes for that League Cup tie but was forced to introduce 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 be the case again on Tuesday.

Arsenal are on an eight-game winning streak against 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 sustaining a long-term knee injury, looks set to begin for the first since that setback. Arteta revealed the striker wrote a "beautiful" letter to his teammates about what football signifies to him.

"We're accustomed to it," said Arteta on the congested fixture list. "I think this week was the sole complete week we had to prepare. The rest until February at least is going to be similar. We have a wonderful chance to go into the last four of a tournament so we will be prepared."

With key players coming back from injury and a desire to advance, Arsenal pose a formidable challenge for a Crystal Palace side urgently in need of a spark as the festive schedule intensifies.