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You could excuse Oliver Glasner for wishing to spend a quiet few days with his family in Austria before Christmas, instead of preparing for Crystal Palace's twenty-ninth fixture of the season—a Carabao Cup last-eight clash with Arsenal. Yet, the notion that Palace could focus on other competitions was quickly dismissed by their head coach.

"No, I do not believe that," remarked Glasner following his team's side's four-one defeat to Leeds. "If somebody informs me that we are defeated deliberately, the next day I'm not the coach any more."

There is a clear difference in Glasner's approach to domestic cup tournaments versus his predecessor, Roy Hodgson. This initially became clear during Palace's run to the Carabao Cup last eight in his first full season in charge. Under Hodgson, the club had previously been eliminated from both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup when Glasner assumed control at Selhurst Park. Conversely, Glasner picked his best team for victories over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, setting up a encounter with Arsenal.

That previous last-eight match concluded in a three-two defeat at the Emirates Stadium, thanks to a slightly debated hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having been ahead at half-time. Almost exactly twelve months later, Glasner must figure out a strategy for revenge against the current Premier League pace-setters in a match that was moved to this week because of European obligations.

A Price of Success and Continental Fatigue

Glasner has, in a sense, been a victim of his own success. Leading Palace to their maiden major trophy with a win in the FA Cup final has brought the rigors of continental football for the first time. These pressures are taking a toll on several exhausted squad members, many of whom have barely had a break all term.

The manager deployed an completely different lineup, including four teenagers, in their final Conference League match. Yet, ahead of the Arsenal clash, he admitted he will have "no option" but to select the bulk of his preferred team, which appeared decidedly lethargic as they uncharacteristically let in four goals from set-pieces against Leeds. "Have to. Yes, must," he said.

Arsenal's Viewpoint and Selection Considerations

On Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the situation are distinct. The boss must juggle his desire to win a another major trophy with extreme practicality. Last year, a hamstring injury to Bukayo Saka sustained in a league game versus Palace just days after their Carabao Cup comeback greatly harmed their title aspirations.

Arteta had made a number of changes for that League Cup tie but was compelled to introduce his "big-hitters" after the break. Saka was introduced from the bench to set up Jesus for a decisive goal in a move that left Glasner "incensed" over a possible offside, with no VAR available—a scenario that will be the case again on Tuesday.

Arsenal have an eight-match winning run versus Palace, featuring seven wins. Gabriel Jesus, who netted a hat-trick in last season's League Cup meeting and a brace in a later league win before suffering a long-term knee injury, is expected to begin for the first since then setback. Arteta revealed the forward wrote a "beautiful" letter to his teammates about what football signifies to him.

"We are accustomed to it," commented Arteta on the busy schedule. "I think this week was the sole complete week we had to prepare. The period until February at least is will be like this. We have a beautiful chance to go into the semi-final of a tournament so we will be ready."

With key players returning from injury and a determination to advance, Arsenal present a daunting test for a Crystal Palace side desperately in need of rejuvenation as the festive schedule intensifies.