Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix endured a night to forget as Arsenal booked their place in the Carabao Cup semi-finals with an [8-7 penalty shootout victory.](https://arseblog.news/2025/12/report-arsenal-1-1-crystal-palace-8-7-on-penalties-inc-goals/)
Having earlier scored an own goal to hand the Gunners the lead, the Frenchman was the first, and only, player to miss from 12 yards, his spot-kick saved by Kepa Arrizabalaga after the previous 15 penalties had all been converted.
In truth, Arsenal should have been out of sight long before the final whistle, but they were punished for their profligacy when Palace captain Marc Guehi converted from close range deep into stoppage time.
For Mikel Arteta, there was satisfaction in securing a two-legged semi-final against Chelsea next year, even if his side failed to turn dominance into goals.
“I’m very happy. We’re in the semi-final, it’s where we wanted to be,” he told his [post-game press conference.](https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/news/every-word-mikel-arteta-said-33115138)
“I’m really happy, and I’m really happy considering the amount of changes that we’ve done, the cohesion and the energy and the quality that the team showed against a team that is very, very well organised and concedes very few chances.
“We generated a lot, and the margin should have been much bigger. After 94 minutes, they weren’t, and when that happens, the teams have the quality to hurt you in any set-piece, and we conceded the goal, and that was emotionally tough to accept after the way the game went.
“But I think we stayed calm, we showed great composure and quality in the penalty shoot-out, and I’m very happy as well for Kepa, that at the end he made the last save and we are through.”
Having needed a penalty to beat Everton at the weekend, and two own goals to overcome bottom side Wolves seven days earlier, there is no sugar-coating Arsenal’s current attacking struggles. Gabriel Jesus, making his first start since January, looked lively and had four chances to break the deadlock, while Noni Madueke will also wonder if he could have done better in front of goal.
If there was a positive, it was that a heavily rotated side continued to create chances throughout. Asked whether his team might soon explode with goals, Arteta said:
“That’s what we want. I think what we have to do is continue to generate the chances that we do, and conceding nothing. I think we conceded only one shot again.
“So, if we do that, and trust the players – they showed great composure and quality in the penalty shoot-out. We had some very big, open chances today to score goals, and we didn’t. So, trust them, keep training, and try to keep improving.”
While Arteta was calm enough by the time he faced the media — his nerves soothed by victory — he was far more animated as he prowled his technical area during the game.
“Yeah, obviously, I wanted a bigger margin because I know they are a team that doesn’t need much in one or two passes. They can attack your box and hurt you, and we discussed that as well. And then, because I wanted to keep everybody on their toes and alive, and understand the importance of the game.
“And the margins are very small when you want to win trophies, and we have to pay attention to every detail to achieve that.”