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You could excuse Oliver Glasner for preferring to enjoy a restful few days with his loved ones in Austria ahead of Christmas, instead of preparing for Crystal Palace's twenty-ninth game of the campaign—a Carabao Cup quarter-final with Arsenal. However, the suggestion that Palace might focus on other tournaments was swiftly rejected by their manager.

"No, I don't think so," stated Glasner following his team's side's four-one defeat to Leeds. "If anyone tells me that we are defeated deliberately, the following day I'm not the coach anymore."

There is a marked contrast in Glasner's approach to domestic cup tournaments relative to his predecessor, Roy Hodgson. This first became clear during Palace's journey to the League Cup last eight in his debut full season in charge. Under Hodgson, the team had previously been knocked out from both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup by the time Glasner took over at Selhurst Park. Conversely, Glasner selected his best team for wins over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, paving the way for a showdown with Arsenal.

That prior last-eight tie concluded in a three-two defeat at the Emirates Stadium, following a somewhat controversial hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, despite Palace having led at half-time. Now, Glasner must devise a strategy for payback versus the current Premier League leaders in a match that was rescheduled to this week owing to European commitments.

A Cost of Achievement and European Fatigue

Glasner has, in a way, been a victim of his own success. Guiding Palace to their maiden major trophy with a win in the FA Cup final has brought the demands of European football for the very first time. These demands are taking a toll on several fatigued players, many of whom have hardly enjoyed a break all term.

The manager selected an completely changed lineup, including four teenagers, in their last Conference League fixture. Yet, ahead of the Arsenal game, he conceded he will have "little choice" but to pick the majority of his preferred team, which looked extremely jaded as they unusually let in four goals from set-pieces against Leeds. "Must. Yes, must," he said.

The Gunners' Viewpoint and Team Considerations

For Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the situation are different. The manager must juggle his ambition to win a second major trophy with considerable practicality. Last year, a hamstring injury to Bukayo Saka suffered in a league game against Palace only days after their Carabao Cup fightback significantly damaged their title hopes.

Arteta had made a number of changes for that cup match but was forced to introduce his "key players" following the break. Saka came off the bench to assist Jesus for a crucial goal in a passage of play that left Glasner "furious" over a potential offside, with no VAR in operation—a scenario that will repeat again on Tuesday.

Arsenal have an eight-match winning streak against Palace, including seven wins. Gabriel Jesus, who netted a hat-trick in last season's League Cup meeting and two in a later league win before suffering a serious knee injury, is expected to start for the first time since then setback. Arteta disclosed the forward wrote a "beautiful" letter to his teammates about what football signifies to him.

"We are used to it," said Arteta on the congested fixture list. "I think this week was the sole full week we had to prepare. The rest until February at least is will be like this. We have a wonderful opportunity 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 formidable test for a Crystal Palace side desperately in need of rejuvenation as the holiday schedule intensifies.