Kepa Arrizabalaga saved Maxence Lacroix’s penalty at the end of an epic shootout to send us through to the semi-final of the Carabao Cup.
Lacroix had earlier scored the own goal that looked to be enough to send us through in normal time, before Marc Guehi scored deep into injury-time to force the shootout.
After a first half which we dominated, Gabriel Jesus came close before we did go ahead late on.
Bukayo Saka’s pinpoint corner wasn’t cleared, and Lacroix poked past his own keeper under pressure from William Saliba.
But Guehi prodded home from close range deep into stoppage time to take us to the shoot out, and after 15 successful penalties, Arrizabalaga dived to his right to keep out Palace’s final spot kick, and start the celebrations.
Lively start
Crystal Palace won the toss, and decided to swap ends, so unusually we were attacking the North Bank end first.
And Noni Madueke had the chance to make that net bulge early on when he was set free by an early Gabriel Martinelli throughball. His aim was off though, and he shot straight at Walter Benitez.
At the other end Tyrick Mitchell was afforded all sorts of space on the counter attack from right wing back, but blazed his shot over.
Martinelli screwed an attempt well wide after Palace only half-cleared our first corner of the evening. There was half a shout for a handball against Jefferson Lerma from the set-piece, but it was waved away. No VAR at this stage of the competition of course.
Had there been VAR, then we may well have had a spot kick moments later when Mitchell pulled Madueke’s shirt after he was set up in the box by Martinelli. The England man still got his shot away, but Benitez saved at close range.
Menacing Martinelli
We were building up the pressure. Martinelli fancied it every time against Jaydee Canvot, and swung in a dangerous deep cross for Gabriel Jesus at the far post, but the keeper got down really well to keep out his header on the line.
Riccardo Calafiori was the next to try his luck, stabbing over inside the area.
We were peppering the Palace penalty area with crosses. One fell to Madueke inside the area with time to take a touch and measure his shot, but Benitez was behind it once again to parry away.
More wonderful wing play from Martinelli, when he completely bamboozled Canvot on the left, led to another cross into an area. Jurrien Timber was completely unmarked, but planted his header over from 10 yards.
Martinelli had created five chances in a fine first half, but ended it hobbling, after a clash of knees.
Second-half changes
Martinelli emerged for the start of the second half, but Canvot didn’t – after a torrid opening 45 minutes he was replaced by Nathaniel Clyne.
Palace were certainly growing into the game after the interval. Jefferson Lerma almost caught out Kepa Arrizabalaga with an enormous throw that bounced in the area before Kepa gathered on the line.
Midway through the half Mikel Arteta sent on Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka. Odegaard’s first involvement was a tempting cross for Jesus – making his 100th Gunners appearance - but his header dropped just wide.
Lacroix puts through his own net
After a lengthy stop for an injury to Chris Richards, Jesus lashed a good chance over the bar after running onto a Saka header.
Jesus had another shot saved after a rapid attack involving William Saliba, Trossard and Mikel Merino.
The resulting corner led to our goal. Saka’s delivery under the bar caused confusion, Calafiori’s header was blocked before Lacroix stabbed the ball into his own net.
It was the third own goal in our favour in a row at Emirates Stadium, after the two against Wolves.
Palace draw level
The stoppage for Richards meant nine minutes were added at full-time, and in the fifth extra minute, Marc Guehi stole in at close range to tuck the ball past Arrizabalaga after Lerma had headed down a deep free-kick.
Declan Rice came close at the death, but we went to a penalty shoot out. All eight of our players scored, before Arrizabalaga went the right way to keep out Lacroix’s effort.
It was enough to send us through to the League Cup semi -final for the 18th time in our history.
Penalties
Odegaard scores 1-0
Mateta scores 1-1
Rice scores 2-1
Devenny scores 2-2
Saka scores 3-2
Hughes scores 3-3
Trossard scores 4-3
Sosa scores 4-4
Merino scores 5-4
Lerma scores 5-5
Calafiori scores 6-5
Wharton scores 6-6
Timber scores 7-6
Uche scores 7-7
Saliba scores 8-7
Lacroix saved 8-7
What’s next
We move into the semi-final, where we will play Chelsea over two legs. The first leg will be at Stamford Bridge in the week beginning January 12, and the return at Emirates Stadium will be on February 3 or 4. But before then we face Brighton & Hove Albion (on Saturday December 27), and then Aston Villa (on Tuesday, December 30) both at home in the Premier League – our final two games of 2025.
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