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You could 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 fixture of the campaign—a Carabao Cup quarter-final against Arsenal. Yet, the suggestion that Palace might prioritize other tournaments was swiftly dismissed by their head coach.

"Absolutely not, I don't think so," remarked Glasner following his team's side's four-one loss to Leeds. "Should anyone tells me that we lose on purpose, the following day I'm not the manager any more."

There exists a clear contrast in Glasner's approach to domestic cup competitions relative to his forerunner, Roy Hodgson. This initially became clear during Palace's journey to the League Cup quarter-finals in his debut full season in charge. Under Hodgson, the team had already 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 best side for wins over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, setting up a encounter with Arsenal.

That previous last-eight match ended in a 3-2 loss at the Emirates Stadium, following a somewhat debated hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, despite Palace having been ahead at half-time. Almost exactly twelve months later, Glasner now faces the task to figure out a plan for revenge against the present Premier League pace-setters in a match that was moved to this week because of European commitments.

A Cost of Achievement and European Fatigue

Glasner has, in a way, been a casualty of his own success. Leading Palace to their maiden major trophy with victory in the FA Cup final subsequently ushered in the rigors of continental football for the very first time. These pressures are catching up with several weary players, many of whom have barely had a rest all term.

The coach fielded an entirely changed team, including four teenagers, in their final Conference League match. However, ahead of the Arsenal game, he conceded he will have "little choice" but to pick the bulk of his preferred side, which appeared decidedly jaded as they unusually conceded four goals from set-pieces versus Leeds. "Have to. Yes, must," he affirmed.

Arsenal's Viewpoint and Team Dilemmas

For Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the circumstances are distinct. The manager must balance his ambition to win a second major trophy with considerable practicality. Last year, a hamstring injury to Bukayo Saka suffered in a league game against Palace only days after their Carabao Cup fightback greatly harmed their title aspirations.

Arteta had made several changes for that League Cup tie but was forced to bring on his "big-hitters" after the break. Saka was introduced from the bench to assist Jesus for a crucial goal in a move that left Glasner "furious" over a potential offside, with no VAR in operation—a scenario that will be the case again on Tuesday.

Arsenal are on an eight-match unbeaten run versus Palace, including seven wins. Gabriel Jesus, who scored a hat-trick in the previous campaign's League Cup encounter and two in a subsequent league win before sustaining a serious knee injury, is expected to begin for the first since then setback. Arteta revealed the forward wrote a "touching" letter to his teammates about what football signifies to him.

"We're used to it," said Arteta on the busy schedule. "I think this week was the sole full week we had to get ready. The period until February at least is will be similar. We have a beautiful chance to go into the last four of a competition so we will be prepared."

With important players returning from injury and a desire to advance, Arsenal pose a daunting test for a Crystal Palace side urgently in need of a spark as the festive period ramps up.