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You could forgive Oliver Glasner for wishing to spend a restful few days with his loved ones in Austria before Christmas, instead of preparing for Crystal Palace's twenty-ninth fixture of the season—a Carabao Cup quarter-final against Arsenal. Yet, the suggestion that Palace could prioritize other competitions was firmly rejected by their head coach.

"Absolutely not, I don't think so," remarked Glasner after his team's side's 4-1 loss to Leeds. "If somebody tells me that we lose on purpose, the following day I'm not the coach anymore."

There exists a stark contrast in Glasner's strategy to domestic cup tournaments versus his predecessor, Roy Hodgson. This first became clear during Palace's run to the League Cup last eight in his debut full season in charge. Under Hodgson, the team had previously been eliminated from each of the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup when Glasner assumed control at Selhurst Park. Conversely, Glasner fielded his strongest team for victories over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, setting up a encounter with Arsenal.

That prior last-eight match concluded in a three-two defeat at the Emirates Stadium, thanks to a somewhat debated hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, despite Palace having been ahead at the interval. Now, Glasner now faces the task to figure out a strategy for payback against the present Premier League pace-setters in a match that was rescheduled to this week owing to European obligations.

A Cost of Achievement and European Fatigue

Glasner has, in a way, been a victim of his own achievements. Leading 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 pressures are catching up with some fatigued squad members, many of whom have hardly had a rest all season.

The manager selected 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 team, which appeared decidedly jaded as they unusually conceded four goals from set-pieces versus Leeds. "Must. Yes, have to," he affirmed.

Arsenal's Viewpoint and Selection Dilemmas

For Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the circumstances are different. The boss must juggle his desire to win a second major trophy with considerable pragmatism. Last year, a hamstring injury to Bukayo Saka suffered in a league game versus Palace just days after their Carabao Cup fightback greatly harmed their title aspirations.

Arteta had made several changes for that League Cup tie but was forced to introduce 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 available—a scenario that will repeat again on Tuesday.

Arsenal have an eight-match unbeaten streak against Palace, featuring seven wins. Gabriel Jesus, who scored a hat-trick in the previous campaign's League Cup meeting and a brace in a subsequent league win before sustaining a serious knee injury, is expected to begin for the first time since that setback. Arteta disclosed the striker wrote a "beautiful" letter to his teammates about what football signifies to him.

"We're used to it," said Arteta on the congested fixture list. "I think this week was the sole complete week we had to prepare. The rest until February at least is going to be similar. We have a beautiful chance to go into the last four of a competition so we will be prepared."

Amid important players returning from injury and a desire to progress, Arsenal pose a formidable test for a Crystal Palace side urgently in need of rejuvenation as the festive schedule intensifies.