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Kepa the Hero as Arsenal Edge Past Crystal Palace on Penalties to Reach Carabao Cup Semi-Finals

Kepa Arrizabalaga was the decisive figure on a dramatic night as Arsenal booked their place in the Carabao Cup semi-finals, edging past Crystal Palace in a high-quality penalty shootout packed with late twists.

The Gunners appeared to have settled the contest in the 80th minute when defensive confusion from a corner led to Maxence Lacroix inadvertently turning the ball into his own net under pressure. With time running out, Arsenal looked set to progress, only for Palace to mount one last surge.

Deep into stoppage time, Adam Wharton delivered a teasing free-kick that Jefferson Lerma flicked on, allowing Marc Guehi to react quickest and bundle the ball home from close range, forcing the tie into penalties.

Arsenal almost avoided the shootout altogether, but Declan Rice was denied with the final kick of the game by an outstanding Walter Benitez. The stand-in Palace goalkeeper had been exceptional throughout, producing a series of fine saves, including two sharp stops to frustrate Gabriel Jesus.

The shootout itself was tense and technically impressive. With the score at 8–7, Lacroix stepped up once more, only for Arrizabalaga to dive low to his right and push the effort away, sparking celebrations inside the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal now move into the last four and will face London rivals Chelsea over two legs for a place in the final.

While progression will please Mikel Arteta, the Arsenal manager is unlikely to be fully satisfied with the performance. Eight changes from the weekend league win disrupted the team’s rhythm, and Gabriel Jesus’ first start in 345 days following his ACL injury underlined the lack of cohesion.

A needless late free-kick conceded by William Saliba led directly to Palace’s equaliser, exposing ongoing defensive lapses. Despite recent positive results, Arsenal are still searching for the fluency and authority that defined their early-season form.

For Crystal Palace, defeat brings disappointment but little shame. Under Oliver Glasner, 2025 has already been historic, with FA Cup and Community Shield success and a first European campaign underway. However, injuries and a demanding schedule are beginning to stretch a relatively small squad.

Missing Daniel Muñoz, losing Chris Richards to injury during the match, and carrying a less-than-fit Jean-Philippe Mateta, Palace still showed resilience and belief. They fell just short, but their performance reinforced their growing status as a competitive force.

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