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You could excuse Oliver Glasner for preferring to enjoy a quiet few days with his loved ones in Austria ahead of Christmas, instead of preparing for Crystal Palace's 29th fixture of the campaign—a Carabao Cup quarter-final against Arsenal. Yet, the notion that Palace could prioritize other competitions was quickly dismissed by their boss.

"No, I don't think so," declared Glasner after his team's side's 4-1 hammering to Leeds. "If anyone informs me that we lose on purpose, the next day I'm not the manager any more."

There is a clear contrast in Glasner's philosophy to cup tournaments compared to his forerunner, Roy Hodgson. This first became clear during Palace's journey to the League Cup quarter-finals in his first complete campaign in charge. Under Hodgson, the team had already been knocked out from both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup when Glasner took over at Selhurst Park. In contrast, Glasner fielded his best side for victories over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, setting up a encounter with Arsenal.

That prior last-eight match concluded in a 3-2 loss at the Emirates Stadium, thanks to a slightly debated hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, despite Palace having been ahead at the interval. Almost exactly twelve months later, Glasner must figure out a strategy for revenge versus the present Premier League leaders in a match that was rescheduled to this week because of European obligations.

A Price of Achievement and Continental 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 subsequently ushered in the challenges of European football for the very first time. These demands are catching up with several fatigued players, many of whom have barely had a break all season.

The coach deployed an entirely different side, featuring four teenagers, in their final Conference League fixture. Yet, for the Arsenal game, he conceded he will have "no option" but to pick the bulk of his preferred side, which looked extremely jaded as they unusually let in four goals from set-pieces versus Leeds. "Have to. Yes, must," he affirmed.

The Gunners' Viewpoint and Team Dilemmas

On Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the circumstances are distinct. The boss must balance his ambition to win a another major trophy with extreme practicality. The previous season, a muscle injury to Bukayo Saka suffered in a league game versus Palace just days after their Carabao Cup fightback significantly harmed their title hopes.

Arteta had implemented several changes for that cup tie but was forced to bring on his "key players" following the break. Saka came off the bench to set up Jesus for a crucial goal in a move that left Glasner "incensed" over a potential offside, with no VAR in operation—a situation that will be the case again on Tuesday.

Arsenal are on an eight-match winning run versus Palace, featuring seven wins. Gabriel Jesus, who netted a hat-trick in the previous campaign's League Cup meeting and two in a later league win before sustaining a long-term knee injury, is expected to start for the first time since that injury. Arteta disclosed the striker wrote a "beautiful" letter to his teammates about what football means to him.

"We're used to it," commented Arteta on the congested schedule. "I think this week was the only complete week we had to get ready. The period until February at least is will be similar. We have a beautiful chance to go into the semi-final of a competition so we will be ready."

With key players coming back from injury and a determination to advance, Arsenal present a formidable challenge for a Palace side urgently in need of a spark as the festive schedule intensifies.