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.
WHAT IS THE "AURA" MIKEL ARTETA SEES IN BUKAYO SAKA’S RECENT PERFORMANCES?
"He shifts momentum." Read Mikel Arteta’s full analysis of Bukayo Saka’s importance ahead of the crucial West Ham showdown.
Mikel Arteta sees something special in Bukayo Saka’s presence on the pitch, an “aura” that he believes could drive Arsenal toward a Premier League title, just three games away from ending a 22-year wait.
During Saka’s recent absence with an Achilles injury, Arsenal managed only a single win in five matches. His return, however, seemed to breathe new life into the squad. Saka set up Viktor Gyokeres for the opener before scoring himself in a solid 3-0 victory over Fulham last weekend.
More crucially, Saka netted the decisive goal that helped Arsenal secure a 2-1 aggregate win over Atlético Madrid, booking their first Champions League final appearance since 2006.
Since making his debut for the Gunners seven years ago, the England international now carries the hopes of pushing Arsenal for vital points, starting with a key clash against relegation-threatened West Ham at the London Stadium, followed by matches against Burnley at home and Crystal Palace away on the season’s final day.
When asked about Saka’s importance, Arteta highlighted the growing role he plays not just within the team but also in how opponents see him. There’s a clear presence, a certain quality that sets him apart. According to Arteta, Saka can shift a game’s momentum at any time, and instilling that kind of respect or even fear in the opposition is invaluable.
Arteta also touched on managing Saka’s comeback after injury, emphasising the idea of channelling fresh energy and motivation into his performance rather than rushing him back too soon. He described it as a privilege to have a player like Saka, someone who embodies core values and principles, both on and off the pitch. Beyond the football, there’s a human connection that makes working with him rewarding. What Saka showed, especially in the recent Champions League semifinal, was nothing short of remarkable.
Alongside Saka, Declan Rice has also become a pivotal figure since his £100 million move from West Ham last year. Now 27, Rice will make his 59th appearance of the season when Arsenal faces his former club on Sunday. His impact has been significant, earning him runner-up in the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year award behind Bruno Fernandes.
Arteta praised Rice as a key leader and a major force for the team, underlining the powerful role he plays as Arsenal chase success this season.
WHY DID JURRIEN TIMBER’S "SIMPLE" INJURY TURN INTO A SEASON-ENDING MEDICAL MYSTERY?
After reaching the Champions League final, Arsenal face a fitness race for key stars ahead of their clash with West Ham.
Mikel Arteta has admitted that both Mikel Merino and Jurrien Timber are running out of time to get fit before the season ends – a tough setback for Arsenal right now.
Both have been out for weeks, dealing with foot and ankle injuries. The hope was always that they’d be back for the final stretch, giving Arsenal a boost when it matters most. This week, Merino at least made it back onto the training pitch, but Arteta has confirmed neither he nor Timber will be involved in Sunday’s big match against West Ham.
Arteta said he has no new injury problems elsewhere, but for Merino or Timber to play before the end of the season, their recoveries would have to be almost perfect. Timber’s situation in particular has turned out to be more complicated than they first thought.
“That’s probably been the hardest part for everyone. For me, for the player,” Arteta said. “We really didn’t think it would take this long, and he’s still not ready.”
Meanwhile, things are going well for Arsenal on the pitch. They’ve pulled five points clear at the top of the Premier League, and they just beat Atletico Madrid, booking a spot in their first Champions League final in two decades.
There’s still a twist, though. Manchester City play Brentford first this weekend, and they still have a game in hand. Even so, if Arsenal win their last three matches, the title is theirs.
Next up is West Ham, who are fighting to avoid relegation and could easily trip Arsenal up. Arteta knows his team can’t afford any slip-ups. “After the Atletico win, I was completely caught up in the emotion. You could feel what it meant to everyone fans and the staff. But straight after, my focus went to West Ham,” he said.
“We talked as a team about how we’ve earned the chance to be in the final, and we have time to get ready, but right now, all our focus and all the details need to go into West Ham.”
