Kepa Arrizabalaga emerged as Arsenal’s match-winner after saving Maxence Lacroix’s decisive penalty to secure a dramatic 9–8 shootout victory (1–1 after extra time) over Crystal Palace, sending the Gunners into the Carabao Cup semi-finals following a night filled with late twists.
Arsenal believed they had sealed the contest in the 80th minute when Lacroix turned the ball into his own net while attempting to clear an Arsenal corner.
The Gunners looked set to avoid penalties until Palace struck back deep into stoppage time.
Adam Wharton delivered a teasing free-kick, Jefferson Lerma nodded it down, and Marc Guehi reacted quickest to prod home the equaliser from close range.
Declan Rice had the final opportunity to win it for Arsenal with virtually the last kick of normal time, but Palace stand-in goalkeeper Walter Benitez produced another fine save to deny him.
Benitez was Palace’s standout performer across the match, pulling off two superb stops to frustrate Gabriel Jesus and keep his side in contention as the game wore on.
The shootout proved to be of the highest quality, but the decisive moment came with the score at 8–7 when Lacroix stepped up again. This time, Arrizabalaga guessed correctly, diving low to his right to push the penalty away and spark Arsenal celebrations.
Arsenal now progress to the last four, where they will meet London rivals Chelsea over two legs for a place in the final.
Arsenal analysis: Through, but concerns remain
Mikel Arteta will take satisfaction from reaching the semi-finals, yet the overall performance is unlikely to have pleased the Arsenal boss. His side dominated spells of the game but failed to convert numerous chances before benefiting from the late own goal.
Arteta made eight changes from the weekend win over Everton, including a first start in 345 days for Gabriel Jesus following his recovery from an ACL injury, and the lack of cohesion was evident at times.
The Arsenal manager cut a frustrated figure on the touchline, particularly as Palace pushed for a late response. William Saliba’s unnecessary foul in stoppage time led directly to the equaliser, though the team ultimately rescued the situation in the shootout.
Despite returning to winning ways after a brief dip in form, Arsenal are still some way short of the standards they set earlier in the season.
For Crystal Palace, this was another reminder of how far the club has come in an outstanding year that has already delivered silverware and a first European adventure.
Oliver Glasner’s side showed resilience and belief, recovering late to force penalties despite missing key players and dealing with injuries during the match, including a concerning knock to Chris Richards.
With a thin squad stretched by a demanding schedule, Palace are beginning to look fatigued, yet their organisation and spirit nearly carried them into the semi-finals.
Although they fell just short, the Eagles can take pride in pushing one of the Premier League’s strongest sides all the way and showcasing their growing competitiveness on the big stage.
