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You could excuse Oliver Glasner for wishing to enjoy a restful period with his loved ones in Austria before Christmas, rather than preparing for Crystal Palace's 29th match of the campaign—a League Cup quarter-final against Arsenal. Yet, the notion that Palace might focus on other tournaments was swiftly dismissed by their boss.

"No, I do not believe that," remarked Glasner following his team's side's four-one loss to Leeds. "Should somebody informs me that we are defeated on purpose, the following day I'm no longer the coach anymore."

There is a clear difference in Glasner's approach to cup competitions relative to his predecessor, Roy Hodgson. This initially was evident during Palace's run to the League Cup quarter-finals in his first full season in command. Under Hodgson, the team had previously been eliminated from each of the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup by the time Glasner assumed control at Selhurst Park. Conversely, Glasner selected his strongest side for victories over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, paving the way for a showdown with Arsenal.

That prior last-eight match concluded in a 3-2 loss at the Emirates Stadium, thanks to a somewhat controversial hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, despite Palace having led at the interval. Almost exactly twelve months later, Glasner must devise a plan for payback versus the current Premier League pace-setters in a match that was rescheduled to this week owing to European obligations.

A Price of Achievement and European Fatigue

Glasner has, in a way, been a victim of his own achievements. Guiding Palace to their first major trophy with a win in the FA Cup final has brought the demands of European football for the first time. These pressures are taking a toll on several fatigued squad members, many of whom have hardly enjoyed a rest all season.

The manager selected an entirely different team, including four teenagers, in their last Conference League match. However, ahead of the Arsenal clash, he conceded he will have "no option" but to choose the bulk of his first-choice team, which looked decidedly lethargic as they unusually conceded four goals from set-pieces against Leeds. "Have to. Yes, have to," he said.

Arsenal's Perspective and Selection Dilemmas

For Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the situation are distinct. The manager must juggle his ambition to win a another major trophy with considerable practicality. Last year, a muscle injury to Bukayo Saka suffered in a league game against Palace just days after their Carabao Cup fightback greatly damaged their title hopes.

Arteta had implemented a number of changes for that League Cup tie but was compelled to introduce his "key players" following the break. Saka came off the bench to set up Jesus for a decisive goal in a passage of play that left Glasner "furious" over a potential offside, with no VAR in operation—a scenario that will repeat again on Tuesday.

Arsenal have an eight-match unbeaten run against Palace, featuring seven victories. Gabriel Jesus, who scored a hat-trick in last season's League Cup encounter and a brace in a subsequent league win before suffering a serious knee injury, is expected to begin 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 accustomed to it," said Arteta on the busy schedule. "In my view this week was the only full week we had to get ready. The rest until February at least is will be like this. We have a wonderful chance to go into the semi-final of a tournament so we will be ready."

With key players coming back from injury and a desire to advance, Arsenal present a daunting challenge for a Crystal Palace side desperately in need of a spark as the festive period intensifies.