Arsenal reach League Cup semi-finals after shoot-out win over Crystal Palace

Kepa Arrizabalaga emerged as Arsenal’s hero in the League Cup quarter-final on Tuesday, producing the decisive penalty shoot-out save that sealed victory over Crystal Palace and sent the Gunners into the semi-finals.

The match at the Emirates Stadium ended 1-1 after extra time. Palace defender Maxence Lacroix’s own goal put Arsenal ahead with 10 minutes remaining, only for Marc Guehi to equalise in stoppage time with Palace’s first shot on target.

The shoot-out went to sudden death after both sides converted their first seven kicks. William Saliba scored Arsenal’s eighth penalty before Kepa dived to his right to deny Lacroix, securing an 8-7 win.

The victory marked a moment of redemption for Kepa, who famously refused to be substituted before Chelsea’s League Cup final penalty shoot-out defeat to Manchester City in 2019 and also missed a spot-kick in the Blues’ 2022 League Cup final loss to Liverpool.

Arsenal will now face London rivals Chelsea in the semi-finals over two legs in January and February. Manchester City will take on holders Newcastle in the other last-four tie.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said: “We generated a lot and should have scored many more goals. When you don’t close the games, it can always happen that you concede.

“We had some big individual performances. Kepa, his level of commitment with the group is just incredible.

“I think the players were so composed with the penalties and in the end, Kepa managed to save one. We are where we want to be.”

Arsenal have reached the League Cup semi-finals for a second successive year as they chase their first trophy since lifting the FA Cup in 2020. The north London club have won the League Cup only twice, with their last triumph coming in the 1992-93 season.

After celebrating Christmas on Thursday, Arteta’s side will return focus to the Premier League title race with home matches against Brighton and third-placed Aston Villa to close out 2025.

Winning a first English league title since 2004 remains Arsenal’s primary goal this season, but claiming the League Cup in March would provide a significant boost to a club that has gone several years without silverware.

Arteta made eight changes to the side that won at Everton on Saturday but still fielded a strong line-up including William Saliba, Mikel Merino, Eberechi Eze, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus.

Jesus, who ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in January, started for the first time in 345 days after returning to action as a substitute against Club Brugge earlier this month.

Noni Madueke should have put Arsenal ahead early but was twice denied by Palace goalkeeper Walter Benitez, who produced an inspired performance.

Benitez made a fine save to keep out Jesus’s close-range header and later repelled another effort from Madueke.

Jurrien Timber headed wastefully over from 10 yards, leaving Arteta wondering if Arsenal would ever break through.

Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard were introduced in the second half, with Odegaard making an immediate impact by crossing for Jesus to head narrowly wide.

Arsenal finally took the lead in the 80th minute through a set-piece. Saka’s corner caused chaos in the box and Lacroix, under pressure from Saliba, poked the ball past Benitez while attempting to clear.

But Palace hit back with a stoppage-time equaliser. Adam Wharton’s free-kick was headed down by Jefferson Lerma and Guehi finished from close range.

After a tense shoot-out featuring nerveless penalties from both sides, Kepa emerged as Arsenal’s saviour.