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You could forgive Oliver Glasner for preferring to spend a quiet few days with his loved ones in Austria ahead of Christmas, rather than preparing for Crystal Palace's 29th game of the campaign—a Carabao Cup quarter-final with Arsenal. However, the suggestion that Palace could focus on other competitions was firmly rejected by their manager.

"Absolutely not, I don't think so," remarked Glasner following his team's side's 4-1 loss to Leeds. "If anyone informs me that we are defeated on purpose, the next day I'm not the manager any more."

There is a stark difference in Glasner's philosophy to domestic cup tournaments compared to his predecessor, Roy Hodgson. This initially became clear during Palace's run to the League Cup quarter-finals in his debut complete campaign in command. Under Hodgson, the team had already been knocked out from both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup by the time Glasner assumed control at Selhurst Park. In contrast, Glasner selected his best side for wins over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, setting up a encounter with Arsenal.

That prior last-eight tie ended in a three-two loss at the Emirates Stadium, due to a somewhat debated hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having led at the interval. Now, Glasner now faces the task to figure out a plan for revenge against the present Premier League leaders in a match that was rescheduled to this week owing to European commitments.

The Price of Success and European Fatigue

Glasner has, in a way, been a victim of his own success. Leading Palace to their maiden major trophy with a win in the FA Cup final has brought the demands of continental football for the very first time. These demands are taking a toll on some exhausted players, many of whom have hardly had a rest all season.

The coach deployed an completely different lineup, including four teenagers, in their final Conference League match. However, for the Arsenal clash, he admitted he will have "no option" but to pick the bulk of his first-choice team, which looked decidedly jaded as they uncharacteristically let in four goals from set-pieces versus Leeds. "Have to. Yes, must," he said.

Arsenal's Viewpoint and Team Considerations

On Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the situation are different. The boss must balance his desire to win a second major trophy with considerable practicality. The previous season, a hamstring injury to Bukayo Saka suffered in a league game against Palace just days after their Carabao Cup fightback significantly harmed their title aspirations.

Arteta had made several changes for that League Cup match but was forced to introduce his "big-hitters" after the break. Saka was introduced from the bench to assist Jesus for a decisive goal in a passage of play that left Glasner "incensed" over a possible offside, with no VAR available—a situation that will be the case again on Tuesday.

Arsenal are on an eight-match unbeaten run against Palace, featuring seven victories. Gabriel Jesus, who netted a hat-trick in last season'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 means to him.

"We're used to it," commented Arteta on the busy fixture list. "I think this week was the sole complete week we had to get ready. The rest until February at least is going to be similar. We have a wonderful chance to go into the semi-final of a competition so we will be ready."

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