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You could forgive Oliver Glasner for preferring to enjoy a restful period with his loved ones in Austria before Christmas, rather than gearing up for Crystal Palace's twenty-ninth match of the season—a Carabao Cup last-eight clash with Arsenal. Yet, the notion that Palace could prioritize other competitions was firmly rejected by their manager.

"No, I don't think so," stated Glasner following his team's side's four-one defeat to Leeds. "If somebody tells me that we lose deliberately, the following day I'm no longer the manager any more."

There is a marked difference in Glasner's strategy to cup competitions relative to his predecessor, Roy Hodgson. This first was evident during Palace's journey to the League Cup quarter-finals in his first complete campaign in charge. Under Hodgson, the club had already been knocked out from both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup by the time Glasner took over at Selhurst Park. Conversely, Glasner picked his best team for victories over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, paving the way for a encounter with Arsenal.

That prior last-eight tie ended in a 3-2 defeat at the Emirates Stadium, due to a rather debated hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having been ahead at the interval. Almost exactly twelve months later, Glasner must devise a strategy for revenge against the current Premier League pace-setters in a match that was rescheduled to this week because of European commitments.

A Cost of Success 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 challenges of European football for the first time. These demands are taking a toll on some exhausted players, many of whom have hardly had a break all season.

The manager fielded an entirely changed team, including four teenagers, in their final Conference League fixture. However, ahead of the Arsenal clash, he admitted he will have "no option" but to select the majority of his first-choice side, which appeared extremely lethargic as they uncharacteristically conceded 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 circumstances are distinct. The manager must balance his ambition to win a another major trophy with considerable pragmatism. The previous season, a hamstring injury to Bukayo Saka sustained in a league game against Palace just days after their Carabao Cup fightback significantly damaged their title aspirations.

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 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 repeat again on Tuesday.

Arsenal have an eight-match unbeaten streak against Palace, including seven wins. Gabriel Jesus, who scored a hat-trick in the previous campaign's League Cup meeting and a brace in a later league win before sustaining a long-term knee injury, looks set to start for the first since then injury. Arteta disclosed the striker wrote a "touching" letter to his teammates about what football signifies to him.

"We are used to it," commented Arteta on the busy schedule. "In my view this week was the sole complete week we had to get ready. The period until February at least is will be like this. We have a wonderful opportunity to go into the last four of a competition so we will be prepared."

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