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One might forgive Oliver Glasner for wishing to enjoy a restful period with his family in Austria ahead of Christmas, instead of preparing for Crystal Palace's 29th match of the campaign—a League Cup last-eight clash against Arsenal. However, the notion that Palace could prioritize other tournaments was firmly dismissed by their manager.

"No, I do not believe that," remarked Glasner after his team's side's 4-1 hammering to Leeds. "If anyone informs me that we are defeated deliberately, the following day I'm not the manager any more."

There is a clear contrast in Glasner's approach to domestic cup tournaments versus his forerunner, Roy Hodgson. This first was evident during Palace's journey to the Carabao Cup last eight in his debut full season in charge. Under Hodgson, the club had previously been knocked out from both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup by the time Glasner assumed control at Selhurst Park. Conversely, Glasner fielded his strongest lineup for victories over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, setting up a showdown with Arsenal.

That prior last-eight match concluded in a three-two defeat at the Emirates Stadium, due to a somewhat controversial hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, despite Palace having been ahead at the interval. Almost exactly twelve months later, Glasner now faces the task to figure out a strategy for payback versus the present Premier League leaders in a fixture that was rescheduled to this week owing to European obligations.

The Price of Success and European Fatigue

Glasner has, in a way, been a casualty of his own success. Guiding Palace to their first major trophy with victory in the FA Cup final has ushered in the demands of continental football for the first time. These demands are taking a toll on some weary squad members, many of whom have barely had a rest all term.

The manager deployed an completely different side, featuring four teenagers, in their final Conference League fixture. However, ahead of the Arsenal game, he admitted he will have "no option" but to choose the bulk of his preferred side, which looked extremely lethargic as they unusually conceded four goals from set-pieces versus Leeds. "Must. Yes, must," he stated.

The Gunners' Perspective and Team Dilemmas

For Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the situation are different. The manager must balance his ambition to win a second major trophy with considerable practicality. Last year, a muscle injury to Bukayo Saka suffered in a league game versus Palace only days after their Carabao Cup comeback greatly damaged their title hopes.

Arteta had implemented several changes for that cup tie but was forced to introduce his "big-hitters" after the break. Saka was introduced from the bench to assist Jesus for a decisive goal in a passage of play that left Glasner "furious" over a potential offside, with no VAR available—a situation that will be the case again on Tuesday.

Arsenal are on an eight-match unbeaten streak versus Palace, including 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 sustaining a long-term knee injury, looks set to start for the first time since that injury. Arteta revealed the striker wrote a "beautiful" letter to his teammates about what football signifies to him.

"We are accustomed to it," said Arteta on the congested schedule. "I think this week was the sole complete week we had to prepare. The period until February at least is going to be like this. We have a wonderful chance to go into the semi-final of a competition so we will be prepared."

With important players coming back from injury and a determination to progress, Arsenal pose a formidable challenge for a Palace side urgently in need of rejuvenation as the holiday schedule ramps up.