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One might excuse Oliver Glasner for preferring to spend a restful few days with his loved ones in Austria before Christmas, instead of preparing for Crystal Palace's twenty-ninth game of the season—a Carabao Cup last-eight clash against Arsenal. However, the idea that Palace could focus on other competitions was firmly rejected by their boss.

"Absolutely not, I do not believe that," declared Glasner after his team's side's 4-1 hammering to Leeds. "Should anyone tells me that we lose deliberately, the following day I'm not the manager any more."

There exists a marked contrast in Glasner's strategy to cup competitions compared to his predecessor, Roy Hodgson. This first was evident during Palace's journey to the Carabao Cup last eight in his first complete campaign in charge. Under Hodgson, the team had previously been eliminated from both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup by the time Glasner assumed control at Selhurst Park. In contrast, Glasner fielded his strongest side for victories over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, paving the way for a meeting with Arsenal.

That previous last-eight tie ended in a three-two defeat at the Emirates Stadium, due to a somewhat controversial hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, despite Palace having been ahead at the interval. Now, Glasner now faces the task to figure out a plan for payback against the current Premier League leaders in a match that was rescheduled to this week owing to European commitments.

The Cost of Achievement and European Fatigue

Glasner has, in a sense, been a victim of his own success. Guiding Palace to their first major trophy with a win in the FA Cup final subsequently brought the rigors of continental football for the very first time. These demands are catching up with some exhausted players, many of whom have hardly had a break all season.

The manager selected an completely changed lineup, including four teenagers, in their last Conference League fixture. However, ahead of the Arsenal clash, he admitted he will have "no option" but to select the bulk of his preferred side, which appeared decidedly jaded as they uncharacteristically let in four goals from set-pieces against Leeds. "Have to. Yes, must," he affirmed.

Arsenal's Viewpoint and Selection Considerations

For Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the circumstances are different. The boss must juggle his desire to win a another major trophy with extreme practicality. Last year, a hamstring injury to Bukayo Saka suffered in a league game against Palace just days after their Carabao Cup fightback significantly harmed their title hopes.

Arteta had made several changes for that League Cup tie but was compelled to introduce his "big-hitters" after the break. Saka came off the bench to set up Jesus for a decisive goal in a passage of play that left Glasner "incensed" over a possible offside, with no VAR in operation—a situation that will be the case again on Tuesday.

Arsenal have an eight-game winning run versus Palace, featuring seven wins. Gabriel Jesus, who scored a hat-trick in last season's League Cup meeting and two in a later league win before suffering a serious knee injury, looks set to begin for the first since that setback. Arteta disclosed the striker wrote a "beautiful" letter to his teammates about what football means to him.

"We are accustomed to it," commented Arteta on the congested fixture list. "I think 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 beautiful opportunity to go into the last four of a tournament so we will be ready."

Amid important players returning from injury and a determination to advance, Arsenal present a daunting test for a Crystal Palace side desperately in need of a spark as the holiday schedule ramps up.