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One might forgive 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 29th match of the season—a Carabao Cup quarter-final against Arsenal. However, the suggestion that Palace could focus on other competitions was firmly dismissed by their boss.

"No, I do not believe that," remarked Glasner after his team's side's four-one loss to Leeds. "If anyone informs me that we lose on purpose, the next day I'm no longer the coach any more."

There exists a marked contrast in Glasner's philosophy to cup competitions versus his predecessor, Roy Hodgson. This initially was evident during Palace's journey to the League Cup last eight in his first complete campaign in command. Under Hodgson, the club had already been eliminated from both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup by the time Glasner took over at Selhurst Park. Conversely, Glasner picked his best lineup for victories over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, paving the way for a encounter with Arsenal.

That previous last-eight match concluded in a 3-2 loss at the Emirates Stadium, thanks to a slightly debated hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having been ahead at half-time. Now, Glasner now faces the task to devise a plan for payback versus the current Premier League pace-setters in a match that was moved to this week because of European commitments.

A Price of Achievement and European Fatigue

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

The manager fielded an completely different side, featuring four youngsters, in their last Conference League match. However, for the Arsenal game, he admitted he will have "no option" but to select the bulk of his preferred team, which appeared extremely jaded as they unusually let in four goals from set-pieces against Leeds. "Have to. Yes, have to," he affirmed.

Arsenal's Perspective and Selection Dilemmas

On Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the situation are different. The manager must balance his desire to win a second major trophy with considerable practicality. The previous season, a muscle injury to Bukayo Saka suffered in a league game versus Palace only days after their Carabao Cup comeback significantly damaged their title aspirations.

Arteta had implemented a number of changes for that cup tie but was compelled to bring on his "key players" following the break. Saka was introduced from the bench to assist Jesus for a crucial goal in a move that left Glasner "furious" over a possible offside, with no VAR in operation—a scenario that will be the case again on Tuesday.

Arsenal are on an eight-match unbeaten streak against Palace, including seven wins. Gabriel Jesus, who scored a hat-trick in the previous campaign's League Cup meeting and two in a later league win before suffering a serious knee injury, looks set to begin for the first since then setback. Arteta disclosed the forward wrote a "touching" letter to his teammates about what football signifies to him.

"We're used to it," said Arteta on the busy schedule. "In my view this week was the sole full week we had to prepare. The period 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."

Amid key players returning from injury and a determination to advance, Arsenal pose a daunting test for a Crystal Palace side urgently in need of rejuvenation as the festive period ramps up.