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You could forgive Oliver Glasner for preferring to enjoy a restful few days with his family in Austria ahead of Christmas, instead of gearing up for Crystal Palace's 29th fixture of the campaign—a Carabao Cup last-eight clash against Arsenal. However, the suggestion that Palace might focus on other tournaments was quickly dismissed by their boss.

"Absolutely not, I don't think so," stated Glasner following his team's side's four-one hammering to Leeds. "Should anyone tells me that we lose on purpose, the next day I'm no longer the manager anymore."

There is a stark contrast in Glasner's strategy to domestic cup tournaments versus his predecessor, Roy Hodgson. This initially was evident during Palace's run to the League Cup last eight in his first full season in charge. Under Hodgson, the team had previously been knocked out from each of the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup when Glasner assumed control at Selhurst Park. In contrast, Glasner fielded his strongest side for victories over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, paving the way for a showdown with Arsenal.

That prior quarter-final match ended in a 3-2 loss at the Emirates Stadium, following a rather debated hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, despite Palace having led at half-time. Almost exactly twelve months later, Glasner now faces the task to devise a strategy for revenge versus the current Premier League pace-setters in a match that was moved to this week owing to European obligations.

A Price of Success and Continental Fatigue

Glasner has, in a sense, been a casualty of his own achievements. Guiding Palace to their maiden major trophy with a win in the FA Cup final subsequently brought the demands of European football for the first time. These pressures are taking a toll on several weary squad members, many of whom have barely had a rest all term.

The coach selected an entirely changed side, featuring four youngsters, in their last Conference League match. Yet, ahead of the Arsenal game, he conceded he will have "little choice" but to pick the bulk of his first-choice side, which looked decidedly jaded as they unusually conceded four goals from set-pieces against Leeds. "Must. Yes, have to," he affirmed.

Arsenal's Perspective and Selection Dilemmas

On Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the circumstances are different. The boss must juggle his ambition to win a second major trophy with extreme practicality. The previous season, a muscle injury to Bukayo Saka sustained in a league game versus Palace just days after their Carabao Cup fightback significantly damaged their title aspirations.

Arteta had made a number of changes for that League Cup match but was compelled to bring on his "big-hitters" following the break. Saka came off the bench to assist 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 have an eight-game unbeaten run against Palace, featuring 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 begin for the first since then setback. Arteta revealed the forward wrote a "touching" letter to his teammates about what football means to him.

"We are accustomed to it," said Arteta on the busy schedule. "I think this week was the sole full week we had to get ready. The rest until February at least is going to be similar. We have a wonderful chance to go into the last four of a competition so we will be ready."

Amid important players returning from injury and a determination to advance, Arsenal present a formidable challenge for a Crystal Palace side desperately in need of rejuvenation as the holiday schedule intensifies.