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One might forgive Oliver Glasner for wishing to enjoy a quiet few days with his loved ones in Austria before Christmas, instead of gearing up for Crystal Palace's twenty-ninth match of the campaign—a Carabao Cup last-eight clash against Arsenal. Yet, the idea that Palace might focus on other tournaments was quickly dismissed by their boss.

"No, I don't think so," stated Glasner after his team's side's four-one loss to Leeds. "If somebody tells me that we are defeated deliberately, the next day I'm no longer the coach any more."

There exists a marked contrast in Glasner's strategy to domestic cup tournaments relative to his predecessor, Roy Hodgson. This initially became clear during Palace's journey to the Carabao Cup last eight in his first full season in charge. Under Hodgson, the team had already been knocked out from each of the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup when Glasner assumed control at Selhurst Park. In contrast, Glasner fielded his best lineup for wins over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, setting up a encounter with Arsenal.

That prior last-eight match ended in a 3-2 loss at the Emirates Stadium, following a slightly controversial hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having led at the interval. Now, Glasner now faces the task to figure out a strategy for revenge against the present Premier League pace-setters in a fixture that was rescheduled to this week owing to European commitments.

The Cost of Achievement and European Exhaustion

Glasner has, in a sense, been a casualty of his own success. Leading Palace to their maiden major trophy with victory in the FA Cup final has brought the challenges of continental football for the very first time. These pressures are catching up with some weary players, many of whom have hardly enjoyed a break all season.

The manager deployed an completely changed team, including four teenagers, in their final Conference League fixture. However, ahead of the Arsenal game, he admitted he will have "no option" but to select the bulk of his first-choice team, which appeared decidedly jaded as they uncharacteristically let in four goals from set-pieces versus Leeds. "Have to. Yes, have to," he affirmed.

The Gunners' Perspective and Selection Considerations

For Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the circumstances are different. The boss must juggle his ambition to win a another major trophy with considerable practicality. Last year, a muscle injury to Bukayo Saka sustained in a league game against Palace only days after their Carabao Cup comeback significantly harmed their title hopes.

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

Arsenal have an eight-match unbeaten streak versus Palace, including seven wins. Gabriel Jesus, who netted a hat-trick in the previous campaign'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 that injury. Arteta disclosed the striker wrote a "touching" letter to his teammates about what football means to him.

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

With important players returning from injury and a desire to progress, Arsenal pose a daunting challenge for a Palace side urgently in need of a spark as the holiday period intensifies.