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You could excuse Oliver Glasner for wishing to spend a restful few days with his loved ones in Austria ahead of Christmas, rather than gearing up for Crystal Palace's 29th game of the season—a League Cup quarter-final with Arsenal. Yet, the suggestion that Palace could focus on other tournaments was firmly rejected by their manager.

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

There is a marked contrast in Glasner's approach to domestic cup tournaments relative to his predecessor, Roy Hodgson. This first became clear during Palace's journey to the League Cup last eight 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 when Glasner assumed control at Selhurst Park. Conversely, Glasner selected his strongest team for wins over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, paving the way for a showdown with Arsenal.

That previous last-eight tie concluded in a three-two loss at the Emirates Stadium, thanks to a slightly debated hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having been ahead at the interval. Almost exactly twelve months later, Glasner must figure out a strategy for payback versus the current Premier League pace-setters in a match that was rescheduled to this week because of European obligations.

A Price of Success and Continental Fatigue

Glasner has, in a sense, been a casualty of his own achievements. Guiding Palace to their maiden major trophy with a win in the FA Cup final has brought the rigors of European football for the first time. These pressures are taking a toll on some fatigued players, many of whom have hardly had a rest all season.

The coach deployed an completely changed lineup, featuring four teenagers, in their last Conference League match. However, ahead of the Arsenal clash, he admitted he will have "no option" but to select the majority of his preferred side, which appeared decidedly lethargic as they uncharacteristically conceded four goals from set-pieces against Leeds. "Must. Yes, must," he affirmed.

Arsenal's Perspective and Team Dilemmas

For Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the circumstances are distinct. The manager must juggle his desire to win a second 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 harmed their title hopes.

Arteta had implemented a number of changes for that cup match but was compelled to introduce his "key players" following the break. Saka came off the bench to assist Jesus for a decisive goal in a passage of play that left Glasner "furious" over a possible offside, with no VAR in operation—a situation that will be the case again on Tuesday.

Arsenal are on an eight-match winning streak against Palace, including seven victories. Gabriel Jesus, who netted a hat-trick in last season's League Cup encounter and a brace in a subsequent league win before suffering a serious knee injury, looks set to begin for the first time since that injury. Arteta disclosed the forward wrote a "beautiful" letter to his teammates about what football means to him.

"We are accustomed to it," said Arteta on the busy fixture list. "I think this week was the sole full week we had to prepare. The period until February at least is going to be similar. We have a wonderful opportunity to go into the last four of a tournament so we will be ready."

Amid key players coming back from injury and a desire to progress, Arsenal present a daunting challenge for a Palace side urgently in need of rejuvenation as the festive period ramps up.