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You could forgive Oliver Glasner for preferring to spend a restful few days with his family in Austria before Christmas, rather than gearing up for Crystal Palace's 29th game of the season—a Carabao Cup last-eight clash with Arsenal. Yet, the suggestion that Palace might focus on other tournaments was firmly dismissed by their manager.

"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 are defeated on purpose, the next day I'm no longer the manager any more."

There exists a marked difference in Glasner's strategy to domestic cup tournaments compared to his forerunner, Roy Hodgson. This first was evident during Palace's journey to the League Cup last eight in his first full season in command. Under Hodgson, the team had already been knocked out from both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup by the time Glasner took over at Selhurst Park. In contrast, Glasner selected his best team for victories over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, paving the way for a encounter with Arsenal.

That previous quarter-final match concluded in a 3-2 defeat at the Emirates Stadium, following a somewhat debated hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, despite Palace having led at half-time. Almost exactly twelve months later, Glasner now faces the task to figure out a strategy for payback against the present Premier League pace-setters in a fixture that was rescheduled to this week because of European obligations.

The Cost of Achievement and Continental Fatigue

Glasner has, in a sense, been a victim of his own success. Guiding Palace to their maiden major trophy with victory in the FA Cup final subsequently brought the challenges of European football for the very first time. These demands are taking a toll on several exhausted squad members, many of whom have hardly enjoyed a rest all season.

The manager selected an entirely changed lineup, featuring four youngsters, in their final Conference League match. However, for the Arsenal game, he conceded he will have "no option" but to pick the bulk of his preferred side, which looked decidedly lethargic as they unusually conceded four goals from set-pieces against Leeds. "Have to. Yes, must," he stated.

The Gunners' Perspective and Team Dilemmas

On Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the situation are different. The boss must balance his ambition to win a another major trophy with considerable pragmatism. The previous season, a muscle injury to Bukayo Saka sustained in a league game against Palace just days after their Carabao Cup comeback greatly damaged their title aspirations.

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

Arsenal are on an eight-game winning run against Palace, including seven victories. Gabriel Jesus, who netted a hat-trick in last season's League Cup meeting and two in a later league win before suffering a long-term knee injury, looks set to start for the first time since then injury. Arteta disclosed the forward wrote a "beautiful" letter to his teammates about what football signifies to him.

"We're used to it," commented Arteta on the busy schedule. "In my view this week was the only full week we had to prepare. The rest until February at least is going to be similar. We have a wonderful chance 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 pose a formidable test for a Palace side urgently in need of a spark as the festive schedule ramps up.