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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 gearing up for Crystal Palace's 29th game of the season—a Carabao Cup quarter-final with Arsenal. However, the suggestion that Palace could focus on other tournaments was firmly dismissed by their head coach.

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

There is a marked contrast in Glasner's approach to domestic cup competitions relative to his predecessor, Roy Hodgson. This initially became clear during Palace's journey to the Carabao Cup last eight in his debut complete campaign in charge. Under Hodgson, the team had previously been knocked out from each of the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup when Glasner took over at Selhurst Park. In contrast, Glasner selected his best team for wins over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, paving the way for a showdown with Arsenal.

That prior quarter-final tie concluded in a three-two defeat at the Emirates Stadium, due to a somewhat debated hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having been ahead at the interval. Almost exactly twelve months later, Glasner must figure out a plan for payback against the present Premier League leaders in a fixture that was rescheduled to this week owing to European obligations.

A Price of Achievement and Continental Exhaustion

Glasner has, in a way, been a casualty of his own achievements. Leading Palace to their first major trophy with victory in the FA Cup final subsequently brought the demands of continental football for the very first time. These demands are taking a toll on some exhausted players, many of whom have hardly had a rest all term.

The manager fielded an entirely changed side, including four teenagers, in their final Conference League fixture. However, for the Arsenal game, he admitted he will have "no option" but to choose the majority of his preferred side, which looked decidedly lethargic as they unusually let in four goals from set-pieces against Leeds. "Have to. Yes, have to," he said.

Arsenal's Viewpoint and Selection Dilemmas

For Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the situation are distinct. The boss must balance his ambition to win a another major trophy with extreme practicality. Last year, a muscle injury to Bukayo Saka sustained in a league game against Palace just days after their Carabao Cup comeback significantly damaged their title hopes.

Arteta had made a number of changes for that League Cup tie but was forced to introduce his "big-hitters" 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 potential offside, with no VAR available—a scenario that will repeat again on Tuesday.

Arsenal are on an eight-game unbeaten streak against Palace, featuring seven victories. Gabriel Jesus, who netted a hat-trick in the previous campaign's League Cup encounter and a brace in a later league win before sustaining a serious knee injury, looks set to begin for the first time since then setback. Arteta revealed the forward wrote a "beautiful" letter to his teammates about what football means to him.

"We're used to it," said Arteta on the congested schedule. "I think this week was the sole full week we had to prepare. The period until February at least is will be like this. We have a beautiful chance to go into the semi-final of a tournament so we will be prepared."

Amid key players coming back from injury and a desire to advance, Arsenal present a formidable test for a Crystal Palace side urgently in need of a spark as the holiday period ramps up.