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One might forgive Oliver Glasner for preferring to spend a restful few days with his loved ones in Austria before Christmas, rather than preparing for Crystal Palace's twenty-ninth game of the campaign—a Carabao Cup quarter-final against Arsenal. Yet, the notion that Palace could focus on other competitions was swiftly rejected by their head coach.

"No, I do not believe that," declared Glasner following his team's side's four-one hammering to Leeds. "Should somebody informs me that we lose deliberately, the following day I'm no longer the manager anymore."

There is a stark difference in Glasner's strategy to domestic cup tournaments relative to his forerunner, Roy Hodgson. This initially was evident during Palace's journey to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals in his first complete campaign in charge. Under Hodgson, the club had previously been knocked out from both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup when Glasner assumed control at Selhurst Park. Conversely, Glasner picked his best side for victories over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, setting up a encounter with Arsenal.

That prior quarter-final match concluded in a 3-2 loss at the Emirates Stadium, thanks to a rather controversial hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having led at half-time. Almost exactly twelve months later, Glasner must figure out a plan for revenge versus the present Premier League pace-setters in a match that was moved to this week because of European obligations.

The Price of Achievement and Continental Fatigue

Glasner has, in a way, been a casualty of his own achievements. Guiding Palace to their first major trophy with victory in the FA Cup final subsequently brought the rigors of continental football for the very first time. These pressures are taking a toll on several weary squad members, many of whom have hardly had a break all season.

The coach fielded an completely different team, featuring four teenagers, in their last Conference League match. Yet, ahead of the Arsenal clash, he conceded he will have "little choice" but to choose the majority of his preferred side, which looked extremely jaded as they uncharacteristically let in four goals from set-pieces versus Leeds. "Have to. Yes, have to," he stated.

Arsenal's Viewpoint and Selection Considerations

For Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the situation are different. The boss must balance his ambition to win a second major trophy with considerable pragmatism. Last year, a hamstring injury to Bukayo Saka sustained in a league game against Palace just days after their Carabao Cup comeback significantly harmed their title hopes.

Arteta had implemented a number of changes for that cup tie but was forced to bring on his "big-hitters" following the break. Saka was introduced from the bench to assist Jesus for a decisive goal in a move that left Glasner "incensed" over a possible offside, with no VAR available—a situation that will repeat again on Tuesday.

Arsenal are on an eight-match unbeaten streak versus Palace, including seven victories. Gabriel Jesus, who scored a hat-trick in the previous campaign's League Cup encounter and two in a later league win before suffering a serious knee injury, looks set to begin for the first time since then setback. Arteta disclosed the striker wrote a "touching" letter to his teammates about what football means to him.

"We are accustomed to it," said Arteta on the congested schedule. "In my view this week was the sole full week we had to get ready. The rest until February at least is will be similar. We have a wonderful opportunity to go into the semi-final of a tournament so we will be ready."

With important players coming back from injury and a determination to progress, Arsenal present a formidable challenge for a Crystal Palace side desperately in need of rejuvenation as the festive schedule intensifies.