Arsenal have booked their place in the Carabao Cup semi-finals after a tense 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace at Emirates Stadium, winning 8-7 on penalties.
The Gunners initially took the lead in the 79th minute when Maxence Lacroix inadvertently turned Bukayo Saka’s precise corner into his own net. However, Marc Guehi rescued Palace deep into stoppage time, forcing a penalty shootout.
Arsenal goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga became the hero, saving Lacroix’s spot-kick to seal the victory.
The match saw Arsenal dominate the first half, with Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus creating multiple chances. Martinelli was particularly influential on the left wing, delivering dangerous crosses and setting up opportunities, though he ended the half hobbling from a knee clash. In the second half, Palace grew into the game, culminating in Guehi’s late equalizer from a Jefferson Lerma header. The resulting shootout was a marathon, with both teams scoring eight successive penalties before Kepa’s save finally decided the outcome.
Arsenal now face Chelsea over two legs in the semi-finals, with the first leg at Stamford Bridge in mid-January and the return at Emirates Stadium in early February. Before that, the Gunners host Premier League fixtures against Brighton & Hove Albion on December 27 and Aston Villa on December 30, rounding off their 2025 campaign.
