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One might forgive Oliver Glasner for wishing to spend a restful period with his family in Austria ahead of Christmas, instead of gearing up for Crystal Palace's 29th match of the campaign—a Carabao Cup last-eight clash with Arsenal. However, the suggestion that Palace might focus on other competitions was quickly rejected by their head coach.

"Absolutely not, I do not believe that," remarked Glasner following his team's side's four-one defeat to Leeds. "If somebody tells me that we are defeated deliberately, the following day I'm no longer the manager anymore."

There is a clear contrast in Glasner's approach to cup competitions versus his predecessor, Roy Hodgson. This first became clear during Palace's run to the League Cup last eight in his debut complete campaign in command. Under Hodgson, the team had already been eliminated from each of the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup when Glasner took over at Selhurst Park. In contrast, Glasner selected his first-choice team for victories over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, paving the way for a meeting with Arsenal.

That previous last-eight tie concluded in a three-two loss at the Emirates Stadium, thanks to a slightly controversial hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, despite Palace having led at the interval. Now, Glasner must figure out a plan for payback versus the present Premier League leaders in a match that was moved to this week owing to European commitments.

The Cost of Achievement and Continental Fatigue

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

The manager deployed an entirely changed side, including four teenagers, in their final Conference League match. Yet, ahead of the Arsenal game, he admitted he will have "no option" but to pick the bulk of his first-choice side, which looked extremely jaded as they uncharacteristically let in four goals from set-pieces against Leeds. "Must. Yes, must," he affirmed.

The Gunners' Viewpoint and Selection Dilemmas

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

Arteta had made a number of changes for that League Cup tie but was compelled to introduce his "big-hitters" 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 possible offside, with no VAR available—a situation that will repeat again on Tuesday.

Arsenal are on an eight-match winning run versus Palace, featuring seven victories. Gabriel Jesus, who netted a hat-trick in the previous campaign's League Cup encounter and a brace in a later league win before sustaining a long-term knee injury, looks set to begin for the first since then injury. Arteta revealed the striker wrote a "touching" letter to his teammates about what football signifies to him.

"We are used to it," commented Arteta on the congested schedule. "In my view this week was the sole full week we had to get ready. The rest until February at least is will 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 determination to advance, Arsenal present a formidable test for a Crystal Palace side urgently in need of rejuvenation as the festive schedule ramps up.