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One might forgive Oliver Glasner for wishing to enjoy a quiet period with his loved ones in Austria before Christmas, instead of preparing for Crystal Palace's 29th game of the season—a Carabao Cup last-eight clash against Arsenal. However, the suggestion that Palace could prioritize other tournaments was quickly dismissed by their boss.

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

There is a stark contrast in Glasner's philosophy to cup tournaments versus his forerunner, Roy Hodgson. This initially was evident during Palace's run to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals in his first complete campaign in charge. Under Hodgson, the club had already been knocked out from both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup when Glasner assumed control at Selhurst Park. Conversely, Glasner picked his first-choice lineup for victories over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, setting up a meeting with Arsenal.

That prior quarter-final match ended in a 3-2 defeat at the Emirates Stadium, thanks to a slightly controversial hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having been ahead at the interval. Almost exactly twelve months later, Glasner now faces the task to devise a strategy for payback against the current Premier League pace-setters in a fixture that was rescheduled to this week owing to European obligations.

A Price of Success and Continental Exhaustion

Glasner has, in a way, been a victim of his own achievements. Leading 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 weary players, many of whom have hardly had a break all term.

The coach selected an completely different side, featuring four teenagers, in their final Conference League fixture. However, ahead of the Arsenal clash, he conceded he will have "little choice" but to select the majority of his preferred side, which appeared extremely jaded as they uncharacteristically let in four goals from set-pieces against Leeds. "Must. Yes, have to," he said.

The Gunners' Viewpoint and Team Dilemmas

For Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the situation are distinct. The manager must juggle his ambition to win a second major trophy with extreme practicality. Last year, a hamstring 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 made a number of changes for that cup match but was compelled to bring on his "big-hitters" after the break. Saka was introduced from the bench to assist Jesus for a crucial goal in a passage of play that left Glasner "incensed" over a potential offside, with no VAR available—a situation that will repeat again on Tuesday.

Arsenal are on an eight-match winning run against Palace, featuring seven wins. Gabriel Jesus, who netted a hat-trick in last season's League Cup encounter and a brace in a later league win before sustaining a serious knee injury, looks set to begin for the first since that setback. 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 only full week we had to get ready. The rest until February at least is will be similar. We have a wonderful chance to go into the last four of a competition so we will be prepared."

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