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You could forgive Oliver Glasner for wishing to spend a quiet period with his family in Austria ahead of Christmas, instead of gearing up for Crystal Palace's twenty-ninth match of the season—a Carabao Cup quarter-final against Arsenal. Yet, the suggestion that Palace might prioritize other tournaments was swiftly rejected by their manager.

"No, I do not believe that," declared Glasner following his team's side's 4-1 defeat to Leeds. "Should somebody tells me that we are defeated on purpose, the following day I'm no longer the manager any more."

There exists a marked difference in Glasner's strategy to domestic cup tournaments relative to his predecessor, Roy Hodgson. This initially was evident during Palace's run to the League Cup last eight in his first full season in command. Under Hodgson, the club had previously been knocked out from each of the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup when Glasner took over at Selhurst Park. Conversely, Glasner selected his first-choice team for victories over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, setting up a meeting with Arsenal.

That prior quarter-final tie concluded in a three-two loss at the Emirates Stadium, thanks to a rather debated hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, despite Palace having led at half-time. Almost exactly twelve months later, Glasner must figure out a plan for payback against the current Premier League leaders in a fixture that was moved 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 first major trophy with a win in the FA Cup final has brought the demands of continental football for the first time. These demands are taking a toll on several fatigued squad members, many of whom have barely enjoyed a rest all season.

The manager deployed an entirely different team, including four teenagers, in their last Conference League match. However, for the Arsenal clash, he admitted he will have "no option" but to pick the bulk of his first-choice side, which appeared decidedly jaded as they uncharacteristically let in four goals from set-pieces versus Leeds. "Must. Yes, must," he stated.

The Gunners' Viewpoint and Team Considerations

For Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the situation are distinct. The boss must juggle his desire to win a another major trophy with extreme pragmatism. Last year, a muscle injury to Bukayo Saka sustained in a league game against Palace just days after their Carabao Cup comeback significantly harmed their title aspirations.

Arteta had made several changes for that cup match but was compelled to introduce 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 "furious" over a possible offside, with no VAR in operation—a situation that will repeat again on Tuesday.

Arsenal are on an eight-game winning run versus Palace, including seven victories. Gabriel Jesus, who scored a hat-trick in the previous campaign's League Cup encounter and a brace in a subsequent league win before suffering a long-term knee injury, looks set to start for the first since then injury. 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. "In my view this week was the sole full week we had to get ready. The rest until February at least is going to be like this. We have a beautiful chance to go into the last four of a competition so we will be prepared."

With important players returning from injury and a desire to advance, Arsenal pose a daunting test for a Palace side desperately in need of rejuvenation as the festive period ramps up.