JUST IN: ARSENAL BEAT PALACE ON PENALTIES TO SET UP CHELSEA SEMI-FINAL CLASH NOW
Kepa Arrizabalaga becomes the hero as Arsenal overcome a Lacroix own goal to win an epic shootout.
After another crazy night—own goal, goalkeeping brilliance, and penalty drama—Arsenal squeezed into the Carabao Cup semi-final against Chelsea.
Kepa Arrizabalaga’s save against Maxence Lacroix sealed the deal after 15 successful penalties, adding insult to injury for the Palace defender.
Arsenal thought they’d won it late when Lacroix accidentally turned the ball into his own net while trying to defend a chaotic corner.
That's the third straight own goal by Arteta’s team at home, after two from Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Prem.
Palace's goalie, Walter Benitez, was amazing, so it felt like it would take something wild or a total fluke to beat him.
It turned out to be a fluke in the 80th minute, but Oliver Glanser’s team doesn't quit. They showed some real grit to grab an equalizer in the fifth minute of added time.
The Gunners celebrated after a nail-biting shootout came down to one miss. Arsenal advanced on their home field but had to fight hard against Oliver Glasner's team.
Marc Guehi poked the ball past Kepa after Jefferson Lerma headed down Adam Wharton’s free kick. Even though Palace dug in, they still lost.
Arsenal last won this trophy in 1993. Since then, this competition has mostly been a way to give backup players some playtime. But Arteta’s current squad is so deep that even those fringe players are looking sharp.
Noni Madueke started on the right wing instead of Bukayo Saka. He was in on goal within three minutes, after winning the ball from a Palace throw and bursting forward.
His shot went straight at Benitez, who was the only starter in Oliver Glasner’s lineup.
Benitez then denied Madueke before a brilliant save, another great save from Gabriel Jesus's header, smothering the rebound to boot. All that in the first 25!
It's been a tough week for Glasner's team, and it showed. This was their fourth game in 10 days, and they were struggling with injuries; as a result, their performance suffered. Apart from the keeper switch, they fielded their strongest possible lineup.
Lacroix’s own goal put Arsenal ahead, and his night got worse at the end.
They sat back and looked for counterattacking chances. They almost caught Arsenal’s shaky defence early when Tyrick Mitchell dashed down the left and fired a shot, but it flew over the bar.
Arsenal controlled the first half. They didn’t get Eberechi Eze involved as much as they would have liked, but he caused problems out wide.
Madueke looked sharp on the right. Gabriel Martinelli gave Jaydee Canvot a hard time. Canvot, a 19-year-old centre half by trade, looked lost trying to contain Martinelli.
Benitez made another save from Madueke before halftime, and Jurrien Timber sent a free header over the bar from 10 yards. Despite Arsenal's pressure, Palace reached halftime without letting in a goal, and Glasner made changes.
Canvot subbed off for Nathaniel Clyne, and Justin Devenny replaced Eddie Nketiah. This added some running power.
Palace looked better right away. Lerma headed wide, and Guehi miscued a shot. Wharton had more impact in midfield.
Wharton fired one past the post from 25 yards. It equalled out. Arteta responded by bringing on Leonardo Trossard for Martinelli. (Martinelli took a knock when his knees collided with Canvot’s at the end of the first half.)
Martinelli played in the second half, but he wasn't moving as freely, and the experience of Clyne gave him a harder time. Soon, Saka and Martin Odegaard joined from the bench. Eze, who scored the only goal vs. Palace in the Prem in October, and Madueke came off.
The game shifted in Arsenal’s favour again. They pinned Palace back, and Jesus headed wide after a hat trick against Palace at this stage of the Carabao Cup last season.
Palace were unlucky when they lost Chris Richards in the closing stages. As Richards was being stretchered around the edge of the pitch, Jesus fired another shot over the bar.
Glasner made even changes, with Lerma dropping into the right of the back three and Will Hughes moving into midfield.
After the first-half onslaught, Benitez was protected well until Trossard and Mikel Merino combined to give Jesus another chance.
Benitez pushed his shot over but couldn’t stop the resulting corner. Saka took it. Riccardo Calafiori headed the ball; Timber shot the blocked ball that hit Lacroix's foot and went into the net.
Arsenal thought they’d won it, but it was just the beginning. Then came Guehi’s leveller and the penalties. More pain for Lacroix. Joy for Kepa.
THE HIDDEN TACTICAL REASON GABRIEL MARTINELLI WAS REPLACED BY LEANDRO TROSSARD
Mikel Arteta confirms Gabriel Martinelli "could not carry on" as Arsenal reach the Carabao Cup semi-finals
Mikel Arteta said Gabriel Martinelli couldn't keep playing during their Carabao Cup game, which is a worry for Arsenal.
Martinelli got taken out, and Leandro Trossard came in around the 60-minute mark on Tuesday. Arsenal won thanks to a penalty shoot-out. Kepa Arrizabalaga saved Maxence Lacroix's penalty, which means Arsenal is going to play Chelsea in the semi-finals.
Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi scored late, so the game went to penalties. Before that, it looked like Lacroix's own goal would win it for Arsenal. Arteta said he had to sub Martinelli off because he couldn't carry on.
Even with the injury concern, the Spanish coach was happy his team was getting closer to Wembley.
"Really happy to be in the semi-final," he said. We played a team that doesn't give you many chances. We made a bunch and should've scored more.
He added, "When you don't finish the game, a late goal can happen." The guys were really calm during penalties. They got more aggressive in the second half, but overall, it's another win, and I'm happy.
Kepa, who's been David Raya's backup this season, enjoyed having a chance to shine. The Spanish player wants to finally win the title, since he's been a runner-up twice with Chelsea.
I think we played great, but then things changed, he told Sky Sports after the game. We need to get better at not giving up goals at the last minute.
Before his save from Lacroix, both teams made all seven of their penalties. You have to stay calm and focused and not lose it.
William Saliba scored the winning penalty. He's 24 and was only playing his third game since coming back from an injury. He was relieved they made it through the tough match.
It was a hard game against a great team. "We played well, other than my mistake," the French player said.
We're really happy to be in the semi-final. We need to remember last season (when Arsenal lost to Newcastle in the semi). Kepa saved us in the end. We want to win both games and get to the final.
THE SECRET BEHIND KEPA ARRIZABALAGA'S PENALTY HEROICS DURING ARSENALS INTENSE SHOOTOUT AT EMIRATES
Kepa Arrizabalaga becomes the hero as Arsenal overcome a Lacroix own goal to win an epic shootout.
Arsenal dominated the first half, but Crystal Palace's backup goalie, Walter Benítez, was on fire, making some great saves to keep his team in it.
After Chris Richards left with a bad ankle gash, Maxence Lacroix's own goal seemed to set up a semi-final against Chelsea. But Marc Guéhi had other plans, scoring in the last few minutes of stoppage time to force a penalty shootout—a repeat of last year’s quarter-final. The first 15 penalties all went in, then Lacroix missed his, and Kepa Arrizabalaga saved it, sending Arsenal through in a dramatic finish.
Of the two teams, Arsenal benefited more from Palace's request to move the game because of their European matches. Mikel Arteta made eight changes from the team that won at Everton on Saturday. Only three players stayed in the lineup, all in defence, where Riccardo Calafiori had to play centre-back because Pierro Hincapié got hurt.
Glasner said before the game that he had to pick pretty much the same team that got beaten badly by Leeds. Goalie Dean Henderson didn't play. Benítez played great during Arsenal's first-half attack, but teenager Jaydee Canvot, playing out of position at right wingback, had a tough time against Gabriel Martinelli
To show how packed Palace's schedule is, this was captain Guéhi’s 31st start of the season for club and country. On the other hand, Jesus waited almost a year for his first start after hurting his ACL against Manchester United back in January.
The injury was especially bad timing since the Brazil striker was playing really well, starting with his hat trick against Palace in this competition. So it felt right that he'd make his 100th appearance for Arsenal against the same team.
People aren't totally sold on Arsenal’s £64m signing, Viktor Gyökeres, yet, so Jesus probably saw this as a chance to impress. He showed his skill early on, teaming up with Martinelli to set up Noni Madueke, but Madueke's shot was weak and went straight at Benítez. Tyrick Mitchell shot over the bar after a great pass from Jean-Philippe Mateta, but that was as close as Palace got in the first half as Arsenal turned up the heat.
Martinelli missed the target after a corner wasn't cleared, and then Madueke forced Benítez to make another save. Martinelli got past Canvot again and crossed the ball to Jesus, but the Palace keeper saved it. Richards made a last-ditch clearance to stop another chance as Arsenal kept attacking with long throws and set pieces.
Palace let in four goals against Leeds but somehow held on until halftime, thanks to some good defending and Arsenal's missed chances. Benítez pushed away Madueke’s close-range shot, and then Jurriën Timber headed another Martinelli cross over the bar right before the break.
It wasn't a shock when Canvot was taken off for the much more experienced Nathaniel Clyne. Plus, Eddie Nketiah came off too against his old club. Palace looked better right away and started the second half with more confidence. Adam Wharton almost scored his first goal for the club with a shot from outside the box.
Arsenal, who took 13 shots in the first half, got frustrated as they couldn't create chances anymore. Like last year, Arteta brought on Martin Ødegaard and Bukayo Saka, but Jesus headed Ødegaard's cross just wide two minutes after he came on.
There was a long break when Richards was carried off with a bad cut to his ankle after challenging Jesus. This is a concern for Palace because their schedule is very busy.
Arsenal needed Saliba to slide in and take the ball away from Mateta. The following corner was blocked on the line, and it seemed like a turning point when Benítez saved another shot from Jesus. But then the ball deflected off Lacroix's foot and into the goal.
Palace looked down, but they fought back when Guéhi scored after Jefferson Lerma headed on Wharton’s free kick. Rice could have won it later, but Benítez denied him. The penalty shootout was full of more drama, but the Argentina keeper couldn't do it again.