**Arsenal:** Kepa; Timber, Saliba, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly; Merino, Nordgaard, Eze; Madueke, Jesus, Martinelli
**Subs:** Raya, Saka, Odegaard, Gyokeres, Trossard, Nwaneri, Zubimendi, Rice, Salmon
A penalty shootout win on Tuesday saw Arsenal see off Crystal Palace to set up a pair of meetings with Chelsea in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup.
Playing their final game before Christmas, the Gunners dominated the first half against visitors Crystal Palace, only to be repeatedly denied by a goalkeeper in fine form. The Eagles improved after the break but some big name substitutions helped Arsenal wrestled back control of the match.
With the quarter-final nearing a penalty shootout, it was a Maxence Lacroix own goal from a corner that saw Arsenal finally take the lead in the 80th minute, only for Palace captain Marc Guehi to nudge home an equalise in added time.
A drawn-out penalty shootout saw 15 penalties in a row find the net before Kepa denied Lacroix, who had a real night to forget, to send Arsenal through.
#### FIRST HALF
The game’s first effort was a sign of things to come, with Gabriel Martinelli playing through Noni Madueke, only for the winger’s admittedly tame effort to be saved by Palace goalkeeper Walter Benitez.
It was largely a case of possession with little penetration for the opening 20 minutes, with Arsenal in control but struggling to turn dominance of the ball into clear chances. That changed, though, with Martinelli in particular looking electric, combining with Gabriel Jesus to tee up Madueke again, with Benitez reacting well to save a shot poked towards goal.
That chance seemed to spark a renewed urgency in Arsenal’s play in the final third.
An even better Benitez save soon followed, with Martinelli delivering a perfect cross for Jesus, who rose and looked almost certain to score with a smart downward header, only for the Argentine to get down to the far post and make a stop.
Calafiori rushed an attempt and sliced over as the ball sat for him nicely following a corner moments later, and another Madueke effort, fired through bodies after he collected the ball unmarked at the far post, was pushed away by the goalkeeper.
#### SECOND HALF
Martinelli’s first half display saw 19-year-old Palace right-back Jaydee Canvot subbed at the break, with ex-Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah also making way following an uneventful first half from his perspective. The changes helped energise Palace, who quickly made tehe second half a much more even contest than the first.
Jefferson Lerma had the first effort of note after the break, heading wide, with Adam Wharton firing wide and an exceptionally long throw giving Kepa some trouble before Mikel Arteta turned to his bench just after the hour mark.
Leandro Trossard came on for Martinelli, who had been quieter after suffering a knock on the knee at the very end of the first half, with Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka also introduced just minutes later.
Momentum quickly shifted Arsenal’s way again, with Trossard looking sharp and Odegaard delivering a wicked cross for Jesus which the striker nodded just wide. It was Jesus with Arsenal’s next effort too when another sub – Saka – nodded a loose ball beyond the Palace backline, but the Brazilian shot over from the edge of the area.
Looking for a smash-and-grab, Palace were inches away from scoring from a corner just moments before the deadlock was finally broken at the other end. A brilliant flowing Arsenal attack saw Jesus denied by the excellent Benitez once more, but the resulting corner brought the opener.
A dangerous Bukayo Saka delivery was met by Riccardo Calafiori, who had his header blocked before the ball eventually bounced into the leg of Lacroix and nestled into the net. After the recent win against Wolves, it was the third Arsenal goal in a row at Emirates Stadium that came courtesy of the opposition. [1-0](https://streamff.com/v/c2f8e34c).
Arsenal looked like they had forced a second in added time when Jurrien Timber caught Marc Guehi on the ball in his own box, but the Dutchman couldn’t beat the onrushing Benitez from close range.
It was Guehi who doled out maximum punishment just minutes later, poking home after Lerma had nodded down a free-kick delivered towards the back post. [1-1](https://streamin.me/v/60c90701).
In the closing stages of what was ultimately 12 minutes of it was Arsenal who looked more likely to score a late winner, with Benitez making yet another save to deny Declan Rice from close range with the very final kick of the game, sending the tie to penalties in the process.
#### PENALTIES
The shootout went to sudden death, with 15 consecutive penalties finding the back of the net before Kepa made a save from Lacroix to send Arsenal through.
Odegaard, Rice, Saka, Trossard, Merino, Calafiori, Timber, Saliba all converted as the Gunners boasted a 100% record from the spot.
Arsenal will travel to Stamford Bridge on 13/14 January 2026 for the first leg of the semi-final, with the second leg to take place at Emirates Stadium on 3/4 February.
The Premier League leaders are next in action on Saturday, when they will host Brighton at Emirates Stadium.