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One might forgive Oliver Glasner for preferring to enjoy a quiet few days with his family in Austria ahead of Christmas, rather than gearing up for Crystal Palace's 29th game of the campaign—a Carabao Cup quarter-final with Arsenal. However, the suggestion that Palace could prioritize other tournaments was firmly rejected by their manager.

"No, I do not believe that," declared Glasner after his team's side's 4-1 defeat to Leeds. "If somebody informs me that we are defeated deliberately, the following day I'm no longer the manager any more."

There is a marked difference in Glasner's approach to cup competitions relative to his forerunner, Roy Hodgson. This first was evident during Palace's run to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals in his first complete campaign in charge. Under Hodgson, the club had already been eliminated from each of the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup when Glasner took over at Selhurst Park. Conversely, Glasner fielded his first-choice team for victories over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, setting up a encounter with Arsenal.

That prior last-eight tie concluded in a three-two defeat at the Emirates Stadium, thanks to a somewhat controversial 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 leaders in a fixture that was moved to this week owing to European commitments.

The Cost of Success and Continental 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 challenges of European football for the very first time. These demands are taking a toll on several weary squad members, many of whom have barely had a break all term.

The manager fielded an completely different lineup, including four teenagers, in their final Conference League fixture. Yet, for the Arsenal game, he conceded he will have "little choice" but to select the majority of his first-choice team, which looked decidedly lethargic as they uncharacteristically let in four goals from set-pieces against Leeds. "Have to. Yes, must," he said.

The Gunners' Perspective and Selection Considerations

On Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the circumstances are distinct. The boss must juggle his desire to win a another major trophy with extreme pragmatism. The previous season, a muscle injury to Bukayo Saka sustained in a league game against Palace just days after their Carabao Cup comeback greatly damaged their title hopes.

Arteta had implemented a number of changes for that League Cup tie but was forced to bring on his "key players" after the break. Saka was introduced from the bench to assist Jesus for a decisive goal in a passage of play that left Glasner "furious" over a possible offside, with no VAR available—a scenario that will repeat again on Tuesday.

Arsenal are on an eight-match winning run against Palace, including seven wins. Gabriel Jesus, who scored a hat-trick in last season's League Cup meeting and two in a subsequent league win before suffering a long-term knee injury, is expected to begin for the first time since that setback. Arteta revealed the forward wrote a "touching" letter to his teammates about what football means to him.

"We're accustomed to it," commented Arteta on the busy schedule. "In my view this week was the only full week we had to get ready. The period until February at least is will be like this. We have a wonderful chance to go into the last four of a tournament so we will be prepared."

With key players coming back from injury and a desire to progress, Arsenal pose a daunting test for a Crystal Palace side desperately in need of a spark as the holiday schedule ramps up.