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You could forgive Oliver Glasner for preferring to enjoy a quiet period with his loved ones in Austria ahead of Christmas, rather than gearing up for Crystal Palace's twenty-ninth match of the campaign—a Carabao Cup last-eight clash with Arsenal. Yet, the suggestion that Palace might prioritize other tournaments was firmly rejected by their head coach.

"Absolutely not, I don't think so," declared Glasner following his team's side's four-one defeat to Leeds. "Should anyone tells me that we are defeated on purpose, the following day I'm no longer the coach anymore."

There exists a clear difference in Glasner's approach to cup competitions compared to his predecessor, Roy Hodgson. This initially was evident during Palace's run to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals in his first complete campaign in charge. Under Hodgson, the club had previously been eliminated from each of the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup when Glasner assumed control at Selhurst Park. In contrast, Glasner selected his best side for wins over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, setting up a showdown with Arsenal.

That previous quarter-final tie ended in a three-two loss at the Emirates Stadium, thanks to a slightly debated hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having been ahead at the interval. Now, Glasner must devise a strategy for payback versus the current Premier League leaders in a fixture that was rescheduled to this week because of European commitments.

The Price of Achievement and European Exhaustion

Glasner has, in a way, been a victim of his own achievements. Guiding Palace to their maiden major trophy with victory in the FA Cup final has brought the demands of continental football for the first time. These demands are taking a toll on several weary squad members, many of whom have hardly enjoyed a break all term.

The coach selected an completely changed team, featuring four youngsters, in their last Conference League fixture. However, for the Arsenal game, he conceded he will have "little choice" but to select the bulk of his preferred team, which looked decidedly jaded as they uncharacteristically let in four goals from set-pieces versus Leeds. "Have to. Yes, have to," he stated.

Arsenal's Perspective and Team Considerations

For Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the situation are distinct. The manager must juggle his ambition to win a second 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 fightback significantly damaged their title aspirations.

Arteta had implemented a number of changes for that cup tie but was forced 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 possible offside, with no VAR in operation—a situation that will repeat again on Tuesday.

Arsenal are on an eight-match unbeaten streak versus Palace, including seven wins. Gabriel Jesus, who scored a hat-trick in last season's League Cup encounter and two in a subsequent league win before sustaining a serious knee injury, is expected to start for the first since then injury. Arteta revealed the forward wrote a "beautiful" letter to his teammates about what football means to him.

"We are accustomed to it," commented Arteta on the busy schedule. "In my view this week was the only complete week we had to prepare. The period until February at least is will be similar. We have a wonderful chance to go into the last four of a tournament so we will be ready."

Amid key players returning from injury and a desire to advance, Arsenal pose a formidable test for a Palace side desperately in need of rejuvenation as the holiday schedule ramps up.