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One might excuse Oliver Glasner for wishing to enjoy a restful period with his loved ones in Austria before Christmas, rather than gearing up for Crystal Palace's 29th game of the campaign—a Carabao Cup quarter-final with Arsenal. However, the idea that Palace might focus on other tournaments was quickly rejected by their head coach.

"No, I don't think so," remarked Glasner following his team's side's four-one hammering to Leeds. "If anyone informs me that we are defeated on purpose, the next day I'm no longer the manager any more."

There exists a clear contrast in Glasner's approach to cup competitions versus his predecessor, Roy Hodgson. This first was evident during Palace's run to the League Cup quarter-finals in his debut full season in command. Under Hodgson, the club had already been eliminated from both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup by the time Glasner assumed control at Selhurst Park. In contrast, Glasner fielded his best lineup for victories over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, paving the way for a meeting with Arsenal.

That prior quarter-final match ended in a three-two loss at the Emirates Stadium, following a slightly debated hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having led at the interval. Almost exactly twelve months later, Glasner now faces the task to figure out a plan for payback against the present Premier League leaders in a fixture that was moved to this week because of European commitments.

A Price of Achievement and Continental Fatigue

Glasner has, in a sense, been a casualty of his own success. Leading Palace to their first major trophy with a win in the FA Cup final has ushered in the rigors of continental football for the very first time. These pressures are taking a toll on several exhausted squad members, many of whom have hardly enjoyed a rest all season.

The coach deployed an entirely different lineup, including four teenagers, in their last Conference League fixture. However, ahead of the Arsenal game, he conceded he will have "little choice" but to pick the majority of his first-choice side, which looked decidedly lethargic as they uncharacteristically conceded four goals from set-pieces versus Leeds. "Must. Yes, have to," he said.

Arsenal's Viewpoint and Team Dilemmas

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

Arteta had made several changes for that League Cup match but was forced to introduce his "key players" after the break. Saka came off the bench to assist 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 have an eight-match unbeaten run against Palace, including seven victories. Gabriel Jesus, who netted a hat-trick in the previous campaign's League Cup meeting and a brace in a subsequent league win before suffering a long-term knee injury, is expected to begin for the first since then setback. Arteta disclosed the striker wrote a "touching" letter to his teammates about what football means to him.

"We're accustomed to it," commented Arteta on the busy fixture list. "I think this week was the sole full week we had to get ready. The period until February at least is will be similar. We have a wonderful opportunity to go into the last four of a competition so we will be ready."

With key players coming back from injury and a determination to progress, Arsenal present a daunting test for a Palace side urgently in need of a spark as the festive period ramps up.