Arsenal reach League Cup semis with shoot-out win over Palace

In the League Cup quarter-final, Kepa Arrizabalaga became Arsenal's key figure by pulling off the vital penalty save, rounding off a difficult night for Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix on Tuesday.

Lacroix's mishit into his own net gave Arsenal the lead with ten minutes remaining at the Emirates Stadium, only for Marc Guehi to grab Palace's equaliser in added time, resulting in a 1-1 stalemate.

This paved the way for a penalty shoot-out where both sides successfully converted their initial seven attempts.

William Saliba slotted home Arsenal's eighth penalty, and then Kepa plunged to his right to block Lacroix's shot, clinching an 8-7 win.

It proved a redeeming experience for the Spanish shot-stopper, who once notably declined a substitution ahead of Chelsea's League Cup final penalty loss to Manchester City back in 2019.

Kepa had also fluffed a penalty in the 2022 League Cup final shoot-out defeat to Liverpool.

The Gunners now face London opponents Chelsea in the semi-finals across two legs in January and February, while Manchester City take on title holders Newcastle in the opposite semi-final tie.

Arsenal have advanced to the League Cup semi-finals for the second year running as they pursue their first piece of silverware since the 2020 FA Cup success.

The north London club has lifted the League Cup on just two occasions, the most recent in 1992-93, long before any members of the current team were born.

Having marked Christmas on Thursday, Mikel Arteta's squad will refocus on the title challenge with upcoming home fixtures versus Brighton and third-placed Aston Villa to wrap up 2025.

Securing their first Premier League crown since 2004 remains Arsenal's primary goal this term, yet claiming the League Cup in March would offer a major lift to a side short on trophies in recent times.

Fresh off a heavy Premier League defeat at Leeds on Saturday, Palace were tackling their third match in six days due to a congested schedule from their UEFA Conference League commitments.

Arteta rotated eight players from the team that triumphed at Everton on Saturday, yet still included a potent lineup with William Saliba, Mikel Merino, Eberechi Eze, Gabriel Martinelli, and Gabriel Jesus.

Jesus, sidelined since January with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, made his first start in 345 days, following his recent substitute appearance against Club Brugge earlier this month.

Kepa redemption

Noni Madueke, one of Arteta's alterations, missed a golden chance to open the scoring after merely three minutes, firing directly at Walter Benitez after latching onto Martinelli's through ball.

Benitez thwarted Madueke once more as Martinelli's subtle lob found him inside the six-yard area.

The Palace keeper dived left to deny Jesus's point-blank header with yet another impressive stop.

Riccardo Calafiori wasted a promising chance by prodding wide from ten yards, prior to Benitez parrying Madueke's effort from Myles Lewis-Skelly's delivery.

By the point Jurrien Timber nodded over from close range, Arteta might have questioned if Arsenal could ever score.

Arteta introduced Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard during the second half, with the latter promptly influencing play via a cross that Jesus headed just off target.

Arsenal at last took the lead in the 80th minute.

As has happened often this campaign, a set-piece proved decisive for the Gunners, with Saka's corner sparking confusion that saw Lacroix, marked tightly by Saliba, deflect the ball beyond Benitez while attempting to defend.

However, Palace hit back with their own set-piece prowess, levelling in the 95th minute via their initial effort on goal.

Adam Wharton's free-kick was flicked on by Jefferson Lerma, allowing Guehi to finish from near point-blank range.

Following a series of composed penalties in the shoot-out, Kepa ultimately proved Arsenal's match-winner.