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You could forgive Oliver Glasner for preferring to enjoy a restful period with his family in Austria ahead of Christmas, instead of preparing for Crystal Palace's 29th match of the season—a Carabao Cup quarter-final with Arsenal. However, the suggestion that Palace might focus on other competitions was firmly dismissed by their boss.

"Absolutely not, I do not believe that," remarked Glasner after his team's side's 4-1 hammering to Leeds. "Should somebody tells me that we lose on purpose, the next day I'm no longer the coach anymore."

There is a clear contrast in Glasner's philosophy to domestic cup tournaments relative to his forerunner, Roy Hodgson. This initially became clear during Palace's journey to the Carabao Cup last eight in his first complete campaign in charge. Under Hodgson, the club had already been eliminated from both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup by the time Glasner took over at Selhurst Park. In contrast, Glasner picked his strongest team for victories over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, paving the way for a encounter with Arsenal.

That previous quarter-final tie ended in a 3-2 defeat at the Emirates Stadium, following a slightly controversial hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, despite Palace having been ahead at the interval. Now, Glasner must figure out a strategy for payback against the present Premier League pace-setters in a match that was moved to this week because of European obligations.

The Cost of Success and Continental Fatigue

Glasner has, in a sense, been a casualty of his own success. Guiding Palace to their maiden major trophy with a win in the FA Cup final has ushered in the demands of European football for the first time. These demands are taking a toll on several fatigued squad members, many of whom have hardly enjoyed a rest all term.

The manager selected an entirely different lineup, featuring four teenagers, in their final Conference League fixture. Yet, for the Arsenal game, he conceded he will have "no option" but to pick the majority of his first-choice team, which appeared extremely jaded as they unusually conceded four goals from set-pieces versus Leeds. "Have to. Yes, must," he said.

The Gunners' Viewpoint and Selection Dilemmas

On Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the situation are distinct. The manager 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 fightback greatly 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 came off the bench to assist Jesus for a crucial goal in a passage of play that left Glasner "furious" over a potential offside, with no VAR in operation—a situation that will be the case again on Tuesday.

Arsenal have an eight-match winning run versus Palace, featuring seven wins. Gabriel Jesus, who netted a hat-trick in last season's League Cup meeting and two in a subsequent league win before sustaining a serious knee injury, is expected to begin for the first time since that injury. Arteta revealed the forward wrote a "touching" letter to his teammates about what football signifies to him.

"We are used to it," said Arteta on the congested fixture list. "I think this week was the only complete week we had to get ready. The period 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 coming back from injury and a desire to progress, Arsenal pose a formidable challenge for a Palace side desperately in need of a spark as the holiday schedule intensifies.