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One might forgive Oliver Glasner for wishing to enjoy a restful few days with his family in Austria ahead of Christmas, instead of preparing for Crystal Palace's 29th game of the season—a League Cup last-eight clash against Arsenal. Yet, the notion that Palace might prioritize other competitions was swiftly dismissed by their manager.

"No, I don't think so," stated Glasner after his team's side's four-one loss to Leeds. "If anyone tells me that we are defeated on purpose, the following day I'm no longer the coach any more."

There is a marked difference in Glasner's strategy to cup competitions versus his forerunner, Roy Hodgson. This first was evident during Palace's journey to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals in his debut complete campaign in command. Under Hodgson, the club had previously been eliminated from each of the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup when Glasner took over at Selhurst Park. In contrast, Glasner fielded his strongest side for wins over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, paving the way for a meeting with Arsenal.

That previous quarter-final match ended in a three-two loss at the Emirates Stadium, thanks to a somewhat debated hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having led at half-time. Now, Glasner must figure out a plan for revenge against the current Premier League leaders in a fixture that was moved to this week owing to European obligations.

The Cost of Achievement and Continental Fatigue

Glasner has, in a way, been a victim of his own success. 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 demands are catching up with several exhausted squad members, many of whom have barely had a rest all season.

The coach selected an entirely different team, featuring four youngsters, in their final Conference League fixture. However, ahead of the Arsenal clash, he admitted he will have "no option" but to pick the majority of his preferred team, which looked extremely jaded as they unusually conceded four goals from set-pieces versus Leeds. "Have to. Yes, have to," he affirmed.

Arsenal's Perspective and Team Considerations

On Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the situation are distinct. The boss must balance his ambition to win a second major trophy with extreme practicality. The previous season, a muscle injury to Bukayo Saka suffered in a league game versus Palace just days after their Carabao Cup fightback greatly harmed their title hopes.

Arteta had made a number of changes for that League Cup tie but was compelled to bring on his "key players" after the break. Saka was introduced from the bench to assist Jesus for a decisive goal in a passage of play that left Glasner "incensed" over a possible offside, with no VAR in operation—a scenario that will be the case again on Tuesday.

Arsenal are on an eight-game winning run against Palace, including seven wins. Gabriel Jesus, who scored a hat-trick in the previous campaign's League Cup meeting and two in a later league win before sustaining a long-term knee injury, looks set to start for the first time since then injury. Arteta disclosed the striker wrote a "beautiful" letter to his teammates about what football means to him.

"We are accustomed to it," said Arteta on the busy schedule. "In my view this week was the sole full week we had to prepare. The period until February at least is will be like this. We have a beautiful opportunity to go into the last four of a tournament so we will be prepared."

With key players coming back from injury and a determination to advance, Arsenal pose a formidable challenge for a Crystal Palace side desperately in need of a spark as the holiday period ramps up.