Having grinded all night to repel attack after attack, poor Lacroix inadvertently diverted the ball past his own goalkeeper.
Arsenal hadn’t been able to find a way through Palace’s resolute back line for 80 minutes, but it looked like they were destined for a two-legged semi-final with Chelsea.
Step forward Marc Guehi, stabbing home a stoppage-time equaliser to force a penalty shoot-out.
With fifteen out of fifteen spot-kicks immaculately dispatched, there was a strange sense that the headlines were already written as Lacroix stepped up to take number sixteen. Kepa Arrizabalaga saved and Palace were out.
Lacroix and his Palace team-mates fought tenaciously. After being blown away at Leeds, conceding from four set pieces, the Eagles were disciplined and well organised against the Premier League’s Christmas number one.
Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix during Carabao Cup quarter-final against Arsenal (Image: Nathaniel Hutchinson)
This was the first cup defeat in twelve months for Palace, with the previous one occurring in the same arena against the same opponents in the same competition.
The story of Jesus is what it is all about at this time of year. Rewind 53 weeks, and it was Arsenal’s Gabriel that ruined the festivities for Palace fans, scoring five times in a matter of four days across two fixtures.
This time around, it was very much more a Silent Night for the Brazilian as Oliver Glasner’s men stood firm.
The Austrian boss was encouraged by his team’s reaction after the Saturday evening debacle in Yorkshire.
During the first half, Palace were on the ropes, but competed well after the break in a much more even affair.
Three games in six days didn’t give Glasner what he wanted in terms of results, but there remains plenty of fight and resilience in his ever-shrinking group of players.
Big Ben Stands Tall
Walter Benitez was given a rare start in goal, and he responded with a magnificent display.
The Argentine stopper stepped up to the plate and it looked like nothing would pass him.
One of his flying punches prior to the half-time whistle was Superman-esque. Given his performance, you’d be forgiven for thinking he was wearing a cape.
Benitez, then playing for PSV Eindhoven, was beaten nine times across a Champions League double-header against the Gunners last season.
But this time out, he was repeatedly in the right place, whether it was a close-range block or flying full length around the goal. A second-half stop to deny Jesus, tipped over the bar at full stretch, was just one in a catalogue of stunning saves.
Crystal Palace goalkeeper Walter Benitez during Carabao Cup quarter-final against Arsenal (Image: Nathaniel Hutchinson)
Just when it looked like Benitez was about to produce his own Miracle of Christmas, he was beaten by one of his own. He did not deserve to lose the clean sheet.
Dean Henderson has been a model of consistency this season, but Glasner must be very comfortable with the fact that, when called upon, the Eagles have another top-class goalkeeper in their ranks.
Please Sir, May I Have Some More
The festive season means movie time in many households, but in Palace’s own, Glasner may well be asking for more when the transfer window opens.
Two new number tens should be at the top of his Christmas list, as his team were feeble in attack again.
Eddie Nketiah was ineffective as he returned to his old stomping ground and Yeremy Pino made no headway against a mean Arsenal rearguard. The pair were replaced by Justin Devenny and Christantus Uche, who fared little better.
Glasner’s system is structured and orderly, but it is the flair in these two attacking slots that illuminates the team.
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner during Carabao Cup quarter-final against Arsenal (Image: Nathaniel Hutchinson)
Palace need to sign a couple of special forward players in January. Game changers that can provide the goals and assists they are sorely lacking right now.
The team is very functional, but not every goal can be crafted. Individual talent that can pull the proverbial rabbit out of the hat and turn games is missing from the group.
Over the past decade, Palace fans have enjoyed the mercurial talents of Wilfried Zaha, Yannick Bolasie, Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze. Signing players of this type will transform this squad and give the Eagles a different dimension.
Early arrivals in SE25 would be very welcome right now, particularly if the list of injured players continues to grow following the challenging fixture schedule.