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You could forgive Oliver Glasner for wishing to enjoy a restful few days with his loved ones in Austria ahead of Christmas, instead of preparing for Crystal Palace's 29th match of the season—a Carabao Cup quarter-final with Arsenal. However, the notion that Palace could focus on other competitions was quickly rejected by their head coach.

"No, I do not believe that," declared Glasner following his team's side's 4-1 hammering to Leeds. "Should anyone informs me that we lose on purpose, the following day I'm not the manager anymore."

There exists a stark difference in Glasner's strategy to cup tournaments versus his forerunner, Roy Hodgson. This first was evident during Palace's run to the League Cup last eight 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 assumed control at Selhurst Park. Conversely, Glasner selected his first-choice lineup for victories over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, paving the way for a showdown with Arsenal.

That prior quarter-final match ended in a 3-2 loss at the Emirates Stadium, thanks to a slightly controversial hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having led at half-time. Now, Glasner must devise a plan for payback versus the present Premier League pace-setters in a match that was moved to this week because of European commitments.

A Cost of Achievement and European Fatigue

Glasner has, in a sense, been a victim of his own success. Leading Palace to their maiden major trophy with victory in the FA Cup final subsequently ushered in the challenges of continental football for the first time. These demands are taking a toll on several fatigued players, many of whom have hardly enjoyed a break all season.

The manager selected an entirely different side, featuring four youngsters, in their final Conference League match. However, for the Arsenal clash, he admitted he will have "little choice" but to select the majority of his first-choice team, which appeared extremely jaded as they uncharacteristically let in four goals from set-pieces versus Leeds. "Have to. Yes, have to," he affirmed.

Arsenal's Viewpoint and Selection Considerations

For Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the circumstances are different. The boss must balance his desire to win a another major trophy with extreme pragmatism. The previous season, a hamstring injury to Bukayo Saka sustained in a league game versus Palace only days after their Carabao Cup fightback significantly damaged their title hopes.

Arteta had made a number of changes for that cup tie but was compelled to bring on his "key players" after the break. Saka was introduced from the bench to set up Jesus for a crucial goal in a move that left Glasner "incensed" over a potential 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 victories. Gabriel Jesus, who scored a hat-trick in last season's League Cup meeting and two in a later league win before sustaining a serious knee injury, is expected to start for the first time since then injury. Arteta disclosed the forward wrote a "touching" letter to his teammates about what football means to him.

"We are accustomed to it," said Arteta on the congested schedule. "I think this week was the sole full week we had to prepare. The rest until February at least is will be similar. We have a beautiful opportunity to go into the semi-final of a competition so we will be prepared."

Amid important players coming back from injury and a desire to advance, Arsenal present a formidable challenge for a Palace side urgently in need of a spark as the holiday period ramps up.