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One might excuse Oliver Glasner for preferring to enjoy a quiet period with his family in Austria ahead of Christmas, rather than preparing for Crystal Palace's twenty-ninth fixture of the campaign—a Carabao Cup last-eight clash against Arsenal. Yet, the notion that Palace might focus on other tournaments was firmly dismissed by their boss.

"No, I don't think so," remarked Glasner following his team's side's 4-1 defeat to Leeds. "If somebody informs me that we lose on purpose, the following day I'm no longer the manager anymore."

There exists a stark difference in Glasner's philosophy to domestic cup competitions compared to his forerunner, 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 previously been knocked out from both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup when Glasner took over at Selhurst Park. Conversely, Glasner selected his first-choice team for wins over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, setting up a showdown with Arsenal.

That prior last-eight match ended in a three-two defeat at the Emirates Stadium, thanks to a rather controversial hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having led at the interval. Now, Glasner must devise a plan for payback against the present Premier League pace-setters in a match that was rescheduled to this week because of European obligations.

A Cost of Success and European Fatigue

Glasner has, in a way, been a victim of his own achievements. Guiding Palace to their maiden major trophy with victory in the FA Cup final subsequently brought the challenges of continental football for the first time. These pressures are taking a toll on some fatigued squad members, many of whom have hardly enjoyed a break all term.

The coach deployed an completely different team, featuring four teenagers, in their last Conference League fixture. Yet, for the Arsenal clash, he admitted he will have "little choice" but to pick the bulk of his preferred team, which appeared extremely jaded as they uncharacteristically let in four goals from set-pieces against Leeds. "Have to. Yes, have to," he stated.

The Gunners' Perspective and Selection Considerations

For Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the situation are distinct. The boss must juggle his ambition to win a another major trophy with considerable pragmatism. Last year, a muscle injury to Bukayo Saka suffered in a league game versus Palace just days after their Carabao Cup comeback significantly damaged their title aspirations.

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

Arsenal are on an eight-match winning run versus Palace, including seven wins. Gabriel Jesus, who netted a hat-trick in the previous campaign's League Cup encounter and two in a later league win before sustaining a long-term 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 signifies to him.

"We are used to it," said Arteta on the congested schedule. "In my view this week was the sole complete week we had to prepare. The rest until February at least is will be like this. We have a wonderful chance to go into the last four of a competition so we will be ready."

With important players coming back from injury and a determination to advance, Arsenal present a daunting challenge for a Crystal Palace side desperately in need of rejuvenation as the holiday period intensifies.