Maxence Lacroix, Crystal Palace’s villain, scored an own goal, but after a dramatic spot-kick equalizer, he missed the decisive penalty, giving Arsenal a place in the Carabao Cup semi-finals.
In a turbulent ending to normal times, a long-frustrated Arsenal went through with Lacroix deflecting Julien Timber’s corner after Walter Benitez made seven superb saves to keep them at bay, but Palace were not finished.
Marc Gehi scored a goal in the fifth minute of added time, silencing the Emirates team and forcing a penalty. As a result, it was a great performance from the spot.
It took 15 perfect penalties for Lacroix to get through, but the only time Kepa Arrizabalaga ruled him out came in his fourth game for Arsenal.
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All penalties from the quarter-final penalty shootout between Arsenal and Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup.
As a result of this result, the Gunners will face Chelsea in the second round of the Carabao Cup semi-finals starting on January 13th.
Attention: Emirates Airlines’ drama during normal times!
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A touch from Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix turned the ball into the net, after Arsenal tried to direct the ball into goal a number of times.
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Marc Guehi scored an equalizer for Crystal Palace in stoppage time, forcing their Carabao Cup match against Arsenal to go to penalties.
what happened during normal times
Mikel Arteta made eight changes to his Premier League squad, but his much-revamped attack was thwarted by a brick wall from Palace shot-stopper Benitez.
Noni Madueke had three shots saved in goal by the Argentine shot-stopper, but his best save of the game was to deny Gabriel Jesus a header from close range, making his first start for Arsenal in 345 days since his injury.
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Walter Benitez denies Noni Madueke goal just before half-time to keep scores level as Arsenal pressure mounts
Gabriel Martinelli was a source of joy for Arsenal’s attack, always bursting past wing-back Jaydee Kanvoto, who was sent off at half-time.
Palace improved after the break, with Jefferson Lerma and Adam Wharton firing good chances wide against a frustrated Arsenal side, while Martinelli was sent off at the same time, unable to shake off the shock of the first half.
But Arsenal finally had the good fortune to put pressure on them against a resilient Palace side who carried Chris Richards in front of the winner, when Jesus saw his header go wide and Benitez tuck his curling shot in.
Timber took Saka’s corner kick towards goal and it took two deflections to get close to goal, but Palace hit back with set-pieces of their own.
Adam Wharton’s free-kick was deflected back by Jefferson Lerma and Guehi put the ball between Kepa’s legs.
Arsenal could have won if Timber had had a chance to score, but Benitez’s seventh save of the game kept the score level until the shootout – and Kepa was the hero here.
Arteta: “Emotionally it was difficult to accept the equalizer”
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta:
“I’m really satisfied, given the amount of changes that were made, the cohesion, energy and quality that the team showed against a team that was very well organized and gave very few chances. We produced a lot.
“After 94 minutes, the difference should have been much bigger. It didn’t happen, but then we conceded a goal, even though the team has the quality to help us with any set-piece.”
“It was mentally difficult to accept given the way the game went, but I think we kept our cool. We showed great composure and quality in the penalty shootout.”
Analysis: Another late goal should worry Arteta
Sky Sports’ Sam Blitz at Emirates Stadium:
“That’s something we have to improve on,” Kepa said. “We conceded a goal at the last minute.”
Brian Brobbey of Sunderland. Aston Villa’s Emiliano Buendia. Tooru Alokodare vs Wolves and now Marc Gehi vs Crystal Palace. Conceding four goals in the closing stages should worry Mikel Arteta.
Marc Guehi scored an equalizer in stoppage time for Crystal Palace, sending the Carabao Cup quarter-final to penalties.
The problem is that all four goals involved crosses and the shots were fired from the center of the penalty area. The penalty area is the zone on the pitch where most teams defend first and then deal with the rest.
But Arsenal, usually a duel-winning, defensively solid outlet, are becoming more so. In last weekend’s 1-0 win against Everton, William Saliba was lucky that VAR did not penalize him for a penalty.
Arsenal had been slowly making their way through the last two games and although they were able to control the game, they took too many risks. This may be due to a lack of defensive cohesion due to the injury to Pierrot Hincapie. Similarly, tight Christmas schedules can put a strain on those already covering for others.
Arteta wants bigger margins and more firepower – Gabriel Jesus is back and Kai Havertz not far away – and could add more goals to ease tensions. But Arteta has serious problems, and it’s not just injuries.
Glassner: Benitez got us into the game.
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner told Sky Sports:
“I’m proud of the second half, we had a really good goalie and kept us in the game, but we looked like a different team in the second half.
“It was really great to be back here. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a shootout where all the penalties were so well taken.
“We have to build on our second-half performance. Everyone said they were feeling tired, but if we can switch up and play like we did in the second half at the Emirates, that’s a huge positive.”
“We were braver, more aggressive. We made more plays inside the opponent’s half. We were much better than in the first half. We were too passive.”
“It’s not easy to play here against Arsenal. What we showed in the second half was really good.”
Arsenal aims to accumulate more games in 2026!
With their place in the Carabao Cup semi-finals confirmed, Arsenal will have a busy start to 2026!
They are scheduled to play every 3 to 4 days in the Premier League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup, Champions League…
Saturday 3 January: Bournemouth (A) – Premier League, 5.30pm kick-off, live on Sky Sports
Thursday 8th January: Liverpool (H) – Premier League, 8pm kick-off, live on Sky Sports
Sunday 11 January: Portsmouth (A) – FA Cup 3rd round, 2pm kick-off
Wednesday 14 January: Chelsea (A) – Carabao Cup semi-final first leg, 8pm kick-off, live on Sky Sports
Saturday 17 January: Nottingham Forest (A) – Premier League, 5.30pm kick-off
Tuesday 20th January: Inter Milan (A) – Champions League, kick-off 8pm
Sunday 25th January: Man United (H) – Premier League, 4.30pm kick-off, live on Sky Sports
Wednesday 28th January: Kairat (H) – Champions League, 8pm kick-off, live on Sky Sports
Saturday 31st January: Leeds (A) – Premier League, 3pm kick-off
Tuesday 3 February: Chelsea (H) – Carabao Cup semi-final second leg, 8pm kick-off, live on Sky Sports
Saturday 7th February: Sunderland (H) – Premier League, 3pm kick-off
Thursday 12th February: Brentford (A) – Premier League, 8pm kick-off
