Arsenal needed every ounce of nerve and a crucial save from backup goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga to edge past Crystal Palace 8-7 on penalties in one of the most dramatic Carabao Cup quarterfinals in recent memory.
The match ended 1-1 after 90 minutes at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night, setting up a penalty lottery that required 16 spot kicks to decide who would advance to face Chelsea in the semifinals.
The shootout hinged on Kepa’s decisive save against Palace defender Maxence Lacroix, the same player whose own goal had given Arsenal the lead in the 79th minute. William Saliba then coolly slotted home the winning penalty to send Arsenal through and set up an all-London semifinal showdown with Chelsea in January.
A Match That Demanded Penalties
For 78 minutes, Crystal Palace goalkeeper Walter Benítez put on a masterclass in frustration. Arsenal dominated possession, created chance after chance, and watched Benítez deny everything they threw at him. Gabriel Martinelli was a constant menace on the left flank, tormenting Jaydee Canvot until a knock forced him off late in the first half.
The breakthrough finally came from an unlikely source. Bukayo Saka’s corner caused chaos in the six-yard box, and with William Saliba applying heavy pressure, Lacroix inadvertently prodded the ball past his own goalkeeper. Arsenal had their lead, and with just over 10 minutes remaining, appeared headed for the semifinals.
Palace had other ideas. In the 94th minute, with nine minutes of stoppage time on the board, Adam Wharton floated a free kick into the box. Jefferson Lerma nodded it down, and Marc Guéhi reacted quickest to poke the ball past Kepa for a stunning equalizer that sent the match directly to penalties.
The Shootout Nobody Will Forget
What followed was a penalty shootout for the ages. Both teams converted their first seven penalties with clinical precision. Martin Ødegaard opened for Arsenal, answered by Jean-Philippe Mateta for Palace. Declan Rice, Saka, Leandro Trossard, Mikel Merino, Riccardo Calafiori, and Jurriën Timber all found the net for the Gunners. Palace matched them kick for kick through Justin Devenny, Will Hughes, Borna Sosa, Jefferson Lerma, Adam Wharton, and Christantus Uche.
At 7-7, the shootout entered sudden death. Saliba stepped up and dispatched his penalty into the bottom left corner. Then came Lacroix, the man whose own goal had opened the scoring. He struck his penalty low to his right, but Kepa guessed correctly and palmed it away. Arsenal had survived.
Kepa Delivers When It Matters Most
For Kepa Arrizabalaga, this was the kind of performance that can reshape a goalkeeper’s narrative. The Spaniard, who has spent much of the season as David Raya’s backup, produced the save that mattered when it counted most. He had earlier been shown a yellow card for time-wasting as Arsenal tried to see out the final minutes, but the controversy was forgotten the moment he dove to his left to deny Lacroix.
Manager Mikel Arteta made several changes to his starting lineup, resting key players ahead of a congested festive schedule. Gabriel Jesus made his first start in 345 days, while Eberechi Eze, Christian Nørgaard, and Noni Madueke all got rare outings. The rotation nearly backfired, but Arsenal’s squad depth ultimately proved decisive in the shootout.
Chelsea Awaits in London Derby Semifinal
Arsenal’s reward for surviving this penalty ordeal is a two-legged semifinal against Chelsea. The first leg is scheduled for Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, January 14, with the return fixture at the Emirates on Tuesday, February 3. Both matches will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
The other semifinal pits holders Newcastle United against Manchester City in what should be another blockbuster tie. Newcastle advanced with a last-gasp 2-1 victory over Fulham, while City dispatched Brentford 2-0 behind a stunning strike from Rayan Cherki.
For Arteta, the Carabao Cup represents his best chance at delivering a major domestic trophy to the Emirates. Arsenal have not lifted a major trophy since the FA Cup in 2020, and with the Gunners currently top of the Premier League at Christmas, this could be the season that patience finally pays dividends. The semifinal against Chelsea will test that ambition against London rivals who have looked increasingly dangerous under their revamped squad.
Palace’s Gutsy Performance Falls Just Short
For Oliver Glasner and Crystal Palace, this exit will sting despite the valiant effort. The Eagles arrived at the Emirates running on fumes after a brutal fixture pile-up that forced this match to be rescheduled from its original December 16 date. Palace had played four games in eight days leading up to this quarterfinal, including a Europa Conference League match against KuPS and a 4-1 defeat to Leeds just three days before traveling to Arsenal.
That Glasner’s side pushed the Premier League leaders to 16 penalties speaks to the character within the squad. Guéhi’s late equalizer gave Palace a chance they simply refused to waste, and only Kepa’s fingertips prevented an upset that would have sent shockwaves through English football.
The Carabao Cup final is set for March 22 at Wembley Stadium. After tonight’s drama, neutrals will be hoping the journey there produces more of the same.