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You could forgive Oliver Glasner for preferring to spend a quiet period with his loved ones in Austria before Christmas, instead of preparing for Crystal Palace's twenty-ninth fixture of the campaign—a Carabao Cup quarter-final against Arsenal. However, the suggestion that Palace could focus on other tournaments was swiftly rejected by their manager.

"Absolutely not, I do not believe that," remarked Glasner after his team's side's four-one hammering to Leeds. "If anyone informs me that we lose deliberately, the following day I'm no longer the manager anymore."

There is a clear contrast in Glasner's approach to domestic cup competitions versus his predecessor, Roy Hodgson. This initially became clear during Palace's journey to the League Cup last eight in his debut full season in command. Under Hodgson, the club had previously been knocked out from each of the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup by the time Glasner assumed control at Selhurst Park. In contrast, Glasner selected his strongest lineup for wins over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, setting up a meeting with Arsenal.

That previous quarter-final match concluded in a three-two defeat at the Emirates Stadium, following a somewhat debated hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having been ahead at half-time. Almost exactly twelve months later, Glasner must figure out a strategy for payback against the present Premier League pace-setters in a match that was moved to this week owing to European commitments.

The Cost of Achievement and European Fatigue

Glasner has, in a way, been a casualty of his own success. Guiding Palace to their maiden major trophy with a win in the FA Cup final subsequently ushered in the demands of continental football for the 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 completely changed side, featuring four teenagers, in their final Conference League fixture. However, ahead of the Arsenal clash, he admitted he will have "no option" but to pick the bulk of his preferred team, which appeared extremely jaded as they unusually conceded four goals from set-pieces against Leeds. "Must. Yes, have to," he stated.

The Gunners' Viewpoint and Selection Dilemmas

For Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the situation are distinct. The boss must balance his ambition to win a another major trophy with considerable pragmatism. Last year, a muscle injury to Bukayo Saka sustained in a league game against Palace only days after their Carabao Cup comeback significantly 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 assist Jesus for a crucial 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-match unbeaten streak against Palace, featuring seven wins. Gabriel Jesus, who scored a hat-trick in last season's League Cup encounter and a brace in a later league win before suffering a long-term knee injury, is expected to begin for the first time since then setback. Arteta revealed the forward wrote a "beautiful" letter to his teammates about what football signifies to him.

"We're used to it," commented Arteta on the busy fixture list. "I think this week was the only full week we had to prepare. The period until February at least is going to be like this. We have a beautiful opportunity to go into the last four of a competition so we will be ready."

Amid key players returning from injury and a desire to progress, Arsenal present a formidable challenge for a Palace side desperately in need of a spark as the holiday period intensifies.