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One might excuse Oliver Glasner for preferring to spend a quiet period with his loved ones in Austria ahead of Christmas, instead of preparing for Crystal Palace's 29th fixture of the campaign—a Carabao Cup last-eight clash against Arsenal. However, the notion that Palace could focus on other tournaments was swiftly rejected by their boss.

"Absolutely not, I do not believe that," declared Glasner after his team's side's four-one hammering to Leeds. "Should anyone informs me that we lose deliberately, the following day I'm no longer the manager any more."

There exists a stark contrast in Glasner's strategy to domestic cup tournaments compared to his forerunner, Roy Hodgson. This initially was evident during Palace's journey to the League Cup last eight in his debut complete campaign in charge. Under Hodgson, the club had previously been eliminated from each of the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup when Glasner assumed control at Selhurst Park. In contrast, Glasner picked his strongest team for wins over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, setting up a showdown with Arsenal.

That previous quarter-final tie concluded in a three-two defeat at the Emirates Stadium, due to a somewhat controversial hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having been ahead at the interval. Almost exactly twelve months later, Glasner now faces the task to figure out a plan for revenge against the current Premier League pace-setters in a match that was rescheduled to this week because of European commitments.

A Price of Achievement and Continental Fatigue

Glasner has, in a way, been a casualty of his own success. Leading Palace to their maiden major trophy with a win in the FA Cup final subsequently brought the rigors of European football for the first time. These pressures are catching up with some weary players, many of whom have hardly enjoyed a rest all season.

The coach fielded an entirely different team, featuring four teenagers, in their last Conference League fixture. Yet, for the Arsenal game, he admitted he will have "no option" but to choose the bulk of his preferred team, which looked decidedly jaded as they unusually let in four goals from set-pieces versus Leeds. "Must. Yes, have to," he stated.

The Gunners' Perspective and Selection Dilemmas

For Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the circumstances are distinct. The manager must balance his desire to win a second major trophy with extreme pragmatism. Last year, a hamstring injury to Bukayo Saka sustained in a league game against Palace only days after their Carabao Cup comeback significantly harmed their title hopes.

Arteta had made several changes for that League Cup tie but was forced to bring on his "big-hitters" following 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 streak versus Palace, featuring seven wins. Gabriel Jesus, who netted a hat-trick in last season's League Cup meeting and a brace in a subsequent league win before suffering a serious knee injury, is expected to begin 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're used to it," commented Arteta on the busy schedule. "I think this week was the only complete week we had to get ready. The period until February at least is going to be similar. We have a beautiful chance to go into the last four of a competition so we will be ready."

Amid key players coming back 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 festive schedule intensifies.