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You could excuse Oliver Glasner for wishing to enjoy a restful period with his family in Austria before Christmas, rather than preparing for Crystal Palace's 29th game of the campaign—a Carabao Cup quarter-final against Arsenal. Yet, the suggestion that Palace might focus on other competitions was quickly dismissed by their manager.

"No, I don't think so," remarked Glasner after his team's side's four-one hammering to Leeds. "Should anyone informs me that we lose on purpose, the next day I'm not the manager anymore."

There is a stark difference in Glasner's approach to domestic cup tournaments compared to his predecessor, Roy Hodgson. This first became clear during Palace's run to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals in his debut full season in charge. Under Hodgson, the team had already been knocked out from each of the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup by the time Glasner assumed control at Selhurst Park. In contrast, Glasner fielded his strongest team for wins over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, paving the way for a meeting with Arsenal.

That prior quarter-final tie ended in a 3-2 loss at the Emirates Stadium, due to a slightly controversial hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having led at the interval. Now, Glasner must figure out a plan for revenge versus the present Premier League leaders in a fixture that was rescheduled to this week because of European obligations.

The Price of Success and Continental Fatigue

Glasner has, in a sense, been a casualty of his own success. Leading Palace to their maiden major trophy with victory in the FA Cup final has brought the demands of continental football for the very first time. These demands are taking a toll on some weary squad members, many of whom have hardly had a rest all season.

The manager fielded an completely changed lineup, including four teenagers, in their final Conference League fixture. Yet, for the Arsenal clash, he admitted he will have "little choice" but to pick the bulk of his preferred side, which looked extremely jaded as they unusually conceded four goals from set-pieces versus Leeds. "Must. Yes, must," he stated.

Arsenal's Viewpoint and Team Considerations

On 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 suffered in a league game versus Palace just days after their Carabao Cup fightback significantly damaged their title aspirations.

Arteta had implemented a number of changes for that League Cup tie but was forced to introduce his "key players" 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 scenario that will repeat again on Tuesday.

Arsenal are on an eight-match winning run against Palace, featuring seven victories. Gabriel Jesus, who scored a hat-trick in the previous campaign's League Cup meeting and a brace in a subsequent league win before suffering a long-term knee injury, looks set to begin for the first since that setback. Arteta disclosed the striker wrote a "touching" letter to his teammates about what football signifies to him.

"We're accustomed to it," commented Arteta on the congested fixture list. "I think this week was the only full week we had to prepare. The period until February at least is will be similar. We have a beautiful chance to go into the last four of a tournament so we will be ready."

With key players coming back from injury and a determination to advance, Arsenal pose a formidable test for a Crystal Palace side urgently in need of rejuvenation as the festive period intensifies.