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One might excuse Oliver Glasner for preferring to enjoy a restful few days with his loved ones in Austria ahead of Christmas, instead of gearing up for Crystal Palace's 29th fixture of the season—a Carabao Cup last-eight clash against Arsenal. However, the suggestion that Palace could prioritize other competitions was firmly rejected by their boss.

"No, I don't think so," stated Glasner after his team's side's 4-1 hammering to Leeds. "If anyone tells me that we lose deliberately, the next day I'm not the coach anymore."

There exists a stark difference in Glasner's philosophy to domestic cup tournaments versus his forerunner, Roy Hodgson. This first became clear during Palace's run to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals in his debut full season in command. Under Hodgson, the team had previously been knocked out from each of the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup by the time Glasner took over at Selhurst Park. In contrast, Glasner fielded his strongest team for victories over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, paving the way for a showdown with Arsenal.

That prior quarter-final match concluded in a 3-2 defeat at the Emirates Stadium, following a rather controversial hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, despite Palace having led at the interval. Almost exactly twelve months later, Glasner now faces the task to figure out a strategy for payback against the current Premier League leaders in a fixture that was moved to this week owing to European obligations.

A Price of Achievement and Continental Fatigue

Glasner has, in a way, been a victim of his own success. Leading Palace to their first major trophy with victory in the FA Cup final subsequently brought the demands of European football for the first time. These demands are taking a toll on some fatigued players, many of whom have barely had a break all term.

The manager selected an completely different lineup, featuring four teenagers, in their last Conference League match. Yet, ahead of the Arsenal game, he conceded he will have "no option" but to select the majority of his preferred side, which appeared extremely lethargic as they uncharacteristically let in four goals from set-pieces against Leeds. "Have to. Yes, have to," he said.

The Gunners' Viewpoint and Team Dilemmas

On Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the situation are different. The manager must balance his ambition to win a another major trophy with considerable pragmatism. The previous season, a muscle injury to Bukayo Saka suffered in a league game against Palace only days after their Carabao Cup comeback significantly harmed their title aspirations.

Arteta had implemented a number of changes for that cup tie but was compelled to bring on his "key players" after the break. Saka came off the bench to assist Jesus for a crucial goal in a move that left Glasner "incensed" over a possible offside, with no VAR available—a scenario that will be the case again on Tuesday.

Arsenal are on an eight-match unbeaten run versus Palace, featuring seven victories. Gabriel Jesus, who netted a hat-trick in last season's League Cup encounter and two in a subsequent league win before sustaining a long-term knee injury, is expected to begin for the first time since that setback. Arteta revealed the striker wrote a "beautiful" letter to his teammates about what football signifies to him.

"We are used to it," commented Arteta on the busy fixture list. "I think this week was the only full week we had to prepare. 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 ready."

With important players returning from injury and a desire to advance, Arsenal pose a formidable challenge for a Crystal Palace side desperately in need of rejuvenation as the festive period intensifies.