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One might excuse Oliver Glasner for preferring to enjoy a restful period with his loved ones in Austria before Christmas, rather than preparing for Crystal Palace's 29th match of the campaign—a Carabao Cup last-eight clash against Arsenal. Yet, the idea that Palace might focus on other competitions was swiftly rejected by their boss.

"No, I don't think so," remarked Glasner following his team's side's four-one hammering to Leeds. "If somebody tells me that we are defeated on purpose, the following day I'm not the manager anymore."

There is a marked difference in Glasner's philosophy to domestic cup competitions relative to his predecessor, Roy Hodgson. This initially became clear during Palace's run to the League Cup quarter-finals in his debut full season in charge. Under Hodgson, the team had already been knocked out from both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup when Glasner took over at Selhurst Park. In contrast, Glasner selected his strongest team for victories over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, paving the way for a encounter with Arsenal.

That previous last-eight tie concluded in a three-two defeat at the Emirates Stadium, following a rather controversial hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having been ahead at the interval. Now, Glasner must devise a strategy for revenge versus the present Premier League leaders in a match that was rescheduled to this week because of European commitments.

A Cost of Achievement and Continental Fatigue

Glasner has, in a way, been a victim of his own success. Leading Palace to their maiden major trophy with victory in the FA Cup final subsequently 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 term.

The manager deployed an completely different team, including four youngsters, in their final Conference League fixture. However, for the Arsenal clash, he conceded he will have "little choice" but to choose the bulk of his first-choice team, which looked decidedly jaded as they uncharacteristically conceded four goals from set-pieces versus Leeds. "Have to. Yes, must," he said.

Arsenal's Viewpoint and Team Dilemmas

For Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the situation are different. The boss must juggle his desire to win a second major trophy with extreme practicality. Last year, a muscle injury to Bukayo Saka sustained in a league game versus Palace just days after their Carabao Cup comeback greatly damaged their title hopes.

Arteta had made a number of changes for that cup match but was compelled to introduce his "big-hitters" following the break. Saka was introduced from the bench to set up Jesus for a crucial goal in a passage of play that left Glasner "incensed" over a possible offside, with no VAR in operation—a situation that will repeat again on Tuesday.

Arsenal are on an eight-match unbeaten streak 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 sustaining a long-term knee injury, looks set to start for the first since then injury. Arteta revealed the striker wrote a "touching" letter to his teammates about what football means to him.

"We are accustomed to it," commented Arteta on the busy schedule. "In my view this week was the only complete week we had to get ready. The period until February at least is will be similar. We have a wonderful chance to go into the semi-final of a competition so we will be prepared."

Amid important players coming back from injury and a desire to advance, Arsenal pose a daunting challenge for a Palace side desperately in need of rejuvenation as the holiday schedule ramps up.