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One might excuse Oliver Glasner for preferring to enjoy a quiet few days with his loved ones in Austria before Christmas, rather than preparing for Crystal Palace's twenty-ninth fixture of the season—a Carabao Cup last-eight clash with Arsenal. However, the suggestion that Palace could prioritize other tournaments was quickly rejected by their boss.

"No, I do not believe that," stated Glasner after his team's side's four-one hammering to Leeds. "Should somebody tells me that we lose deliberately, the next day I'm no longer the coach any more."

There is a clear contrast in Glasner's philosophy to cup competitions relative to his predecessor, Roy Hodgson. This first became clear during Palace's journey to the Carabao Cup last eight in his debut full season in command. 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. In contrast, Glasner picked his strongest side for victories over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, setting up a showdown with Arsenal.

That prior quarter-final match concluded in a three-two loss at the Emirates Stadium, thanks to a slightly controversial hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having led 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 leaders in a fixture that was moved to this week owing to European commitments.

The Cost of Achievement and Continental Fatigue

Glasner has, in a sense, been a casualty of his own success. Guiding Palace to their first major trophy with a win in the FA Cup final subsequently ushered in the rigors of continental football for the very first time. These pressures are taking a toll on some weary players, many of whom have barely enjoyed a rest all term.

The manager selected an entirely different lineup, including four teenagers, in their final Conference League fixture. Yet, for the Arsenal game, he admitted he will have "no option" but to choose the majority of his preferred team, which appeared extremely lethargic as they uncharacteristically let in four goals from set-pieces against Leeds. "Have to. Yes, have to," he affirmed.

The Gunners' Perspective and Selection Dilemmas

On Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the situation are different. The boss must juggle his desire to win a second major trophy with considerable practicality. Last year, a hamstring injury to Bukayo Saka suffered in a league game versus Palace just days after their Carabao Cup fightback greatly harmed their title aspirations.

Arteta had made several changes for that League Cup match but was forced to bring on his "key players" after the break. Saka came off the bench to set up Jesus for a decisive goal in a move 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-game winning run against Palace, featuring seven victories. Gabriel Jesus, who scored a hat-trick in the previous campaign's League Cup meeting and two in a subsequent league win before suffering a serious knee injury, looks set to start for the first since then injury. Arteta disclosed the forward wrote a "beautiful" letter to his teammates about what football means to him.

"We are accustomed to it," commented 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 similar. We have a beautiful opportunity to go into the semi-final of a tournament so we will be ready."

Amid important players returning from injury and a desire to advance, Arsenal pose a formidable test for a Palace side urgently in need of a spark as the holiday period intensifies.