With Wembley in sight the Gunners should follow Newcastle’s determined lead – and also take a leaf from Pep Guardiola’s book
It’s only the “Mickey Mouse Cup” once you’re out, so the running joke among English football fans goes.
Gooners were preparing to say exactly that about the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night when trailing Crystal Palace, but Gabriel Jesus had other ideas – with a helping hand from Arsenal’s vital duo – when his hat-trick kept their hopes of a first trophy for five years alive.
And couldn’t they do with it, too. Arsenal have forgotten what silverware feels like to the touch, with Martin Odegaard yet to lift a trophy of significance as Arsenal captain.
Mikel Arteta may therefore ditch the changes by the time the semi-final first leg comes around in January.
That was clearly even the case as the night progressed against Palace, with Odegaard and William Saliba both brought on at half-time as Arsenal trailed.
Unsurprisingly, it was Odegaard who unlocked Palace’s defence, providing two assists as fellow substitute Bukayo Saka set up the other for Jesus.
They have other fish to fry, but the Arsenal side that finished this match is probably closer to the XI that will start the semis.
We will find out who they face for a place in the final on Thursday night after Tottenham’s match with Manchester United, but with Manchester City out the Carabao Cup presents Arsenal with a real opportunity of winning a second trophy under Arteta.
For a side who are the record 14-time FA Cup winners, their paltry League Cup haul of two really is surprising, the last coming in 1993.
Arsenal's Gabriel Jesus, second left, celebrates with teammates after scoring scoring a hat-trick and his side's third goal during the English League Cup quarterfinal soccer match between Arsenal and Crystal Palace at Emirates stadium, in London, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Arsenal brought on their big-hitters to see off Crystal Palace (Photo: AP)
Add to that their soon-to-be 21-year Premier League wait (as if they need reminding) and it has been just the one FA Cup triumph under Arteta – and no we’re not counting the two Community Shield wins.
This means the Spaniard should take another leaf from the book of Pep Guardiola, who saw the Carabao Cup as a chance to get his City players used to the big stage and that walk up the Wembley steps.
Now three games away themselves, and two from a date at Wembley, Arsenal should follow Newcastle’s determined footsteps and do everything they can to win the Carabao Cup. Seriously.
Arteta can ill-afford his tenure to be remembered by one FA Cup triumph almost half a decade ago – and despite going backwards in the league this season, a cup win could yet be a springboard.
How Arsenal reached Carabao Cup semi-finals
By Jon West
Hat-trick hero Jesus stepped up when Arsenal needed him to make sure Arteta’s sixth year as Arsenal manager will feature a Carabao Cup semi-final.
Brazil striker Jesus has become a fringe-man at the Emirates in recent months, partly through fitness issues and partly because others have excelled.
But with Palace leading through Jean-Philippe Mateta’s early cashing in of a dreadful Jakub Kiwior error Jesus conjured up a trio of second-half reminders that he can finish.
That had certainly been the problem in the Premier League on Saturday, when Everton were somehow allowed to escape with a point from a 0-0 draw but despite ex-Gunner Eddie Nketiah pulling one back late on it is Arsenal’s name, not Palace’s, that goes into tonight’s last four draw.
Arteta, who succeeded Unai Emery on 20 December 20 2019, allowed eight of Saturday’s under-achievers time off, although all but Declan Rice were made to begin on the bench.
Palace opted to stick with a huge majority of the side that won 3-1 at Brighton on Sunday. Daniel Munoz was suspended so 18-year-old Caleb Kporha came in at right wing-back for his first Eagles start.
It took just over three minutes for the re-jigged Arsenal line-up to be utterly undone from goalkeeper Dean Henderson’s long punt downfield.
It was aimed at Mateta, who seemed to accept that Kiwior would get there first and head it away. The Frenchman must have been both surprised and delighted therefore to find himself running towards goal instead. Mateta held off the desperately back-tracking Pole and slotted calmly across David Raya from the left of the box.
Kiwior had been nudged, slightly by Mateta’s elbow, but his agent can nevertheless expect a busy January – his Gunners career may have effectively ended last night.
The setback stung Arsenal into action – Jefferson Lerma was required to clear a corner off the line before Leandro Trossard, set up by Raheem Sterling, blazed a decent chance over.
Eagle tails were still very much up however and Ismaila Sarr, capitalising on Jesus’ careless touch, strode forward to force Raya into a diving save. Eberechi Eze was next to have a go – from inside his own half from a free-kick – but cleared crossbar as well as Raya.
Henderson was required to tip over Raheem Sterling’s free-kick but Mikel Merino’s header from the corner dropped wide of the far post – and the half ended with Trossard beating challengers with a superb turn only for the cross to go out for a throw.
Changes were inevitable so on came Odegaard and Saliba for Ethan Nwaneri and Thomas Partey. Palace swapped Kporha, who had been booked for a foul on Trossard, for Nathaniel Clyne.
Sterling should have levelled within five minutes when Kieran Tierney, making a first Gunners start since 2023, picked him out unmarked at the back post. Henderson did well to parry – but the on-loan Chelsea man scooped the rebound on to the bar.
Momentum had shifted however and Jesus levelled in the 54th minute. The Brazil striker, played in by Odegaard, evaded Trevoh Chalabah’s lunge and sent a precision dink over Henderson.
Palace sent on Nketiah just before the hour mark before Henderson denied Jesus with his legs.
Arsenal swapped Sterling for Saka for the last 20 minutes after Tierney’s return from injury ended prematurely – Palace were already hanging on.
Henderson was proving difficult to get past however, with Merino firing at the England man, but it was Jesus’ night. Saka slipped him in – he was just onside, it seemed – and having taken a quick look up, the former Manchester City man drilled across Henderson and into the far corner.
The match ball belonged to Jesus in the 81st minute when Palace were caught pushing up. Odegaard sent him sprinting through for another emphatic finish.
Nketiah headed home to make it 3-2 shortly after but Arsenal held firm to move closer to their first silverware since Arteta’s first season.