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.
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.”
