Arsenal advanced to the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Crystal Palace at the Emirates. Here’s how the players fared:
**David Raya – 6**
Beaten twice but wasn’t heavily tested beyond those moments. A steady, if unremarkable, display.
**Thomas Partey – 5.5**
Struggled to make an impact as a right-back, offering little going forward. This position does not seem to suit him, especially against decent opponents.
**Jurrien Timber – 7.0**
Looked far more comfortable when moved to right-back in the second half. A solid and adaptable performance.
**Jakub Kiwior – 5.0**
A tough outing for Kiwior, who struggled against Mateta. His role in Palace’s opening goal underlines the defensive lapses that remain in his game.
**Kieran Tierney – 7.0**
An unexpected inclusion in the lineup, Tierney impressed with his energetic display. He could have added an assist to his name with better finishing from his teammates.
**Ethan Nwaneri – 6.0**
Showed glimpses of promise but appeared out of his depth in this game. Martin Odegaard’s introduction in his place turned the match around.
**Jorginho – 7.0**
The experienced midfielder kept things ticking in midfield with calm distribution and control. A composed performance.
**Mikel Merino – 5.5**
Struggled to impose himself but improved once Odegaard entered the fray. Still needs to prove why Mikel Arteta brought him in.
**Raheem Sterling – 6.5**
A lively performance, causing Palace problems throughout. However, he’ll be kicking himself for not converting Tierney’s perfect cross.
**Gabriel Jesus – 9.5**
Possibly silenced some critics with a stunning hat-trick. His movement, finishing, and work rate were outstanding. A match-winning display.
![Jesus celebrating hat trick against Crystal Palace with Leandro Trossard](https://icdn.justarsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Jesus-celebrating-hat-trick-against-Crystal-Palace-with-Leandro-Trossard.jpg)
(Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
**Leandro Trossard – 7.0**
Always looked dangerous and justified his starting spot with an energetic and creative performance.
**Substitutes**
**Martin Odegaard – 8.0**
Changed the game with his creativity and vision. His pinpoint pass for Jesus’ equaliser was a thing of beauty. Only Jesus’ hat-trick kept him from being Man of the Match.
**William Saliba – 7.0**
Brought much-needed composure to the backline, allowing Arsenal to dominate the latter stages.
**Myles Lewis-Skelly – 6.0**
A confident cameo from the youngster, continuing to show maturity beyond his years.
**Bukayo Saka – 7.0**
Made an immediate impact by assisting one of Jesus’ goals. Proved once again why he’s Arsenal’s most dangerous player.
**Gabriel Magalhães – N/A**
Had too little time on the pitch to make a meaningful impact.