Arsenal secured their place in the Carabao Cup semifinals following a dramatic quarter-final clash against Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night.
The London derby ended 1‑1 after 90 minutes, forcing a tense penalty shootout. Arsenal eventually triumphed 8‑7, keeping their silverware hopes alive.
The match was punctuated by late drama. Maxence Lacroix inadvertently scored an own goal in the 79th minute, giving Arsenal the lead. However, Palace refused to fold, with Marc Guéhi netting a stoppage-time equaliser to send the game into penalties.
The shootout proved nerve-wracking. Kepa Arrizabalaga, Arsenal’s goalkeeper, made a crucial save against Lacroix, helping his team clinch the win. Despite Palace’s resilience, Arsenal’s composure from the spot ultimately sealed their advancement.
The contest also saw a serious injury to Palace defender Chris Richards, who was stretchered off after sustaining a bleeding foot in the second half, forcing an early tactical reshuffle.
With this win, Arsenal will face Chelsea in the semifinals in a two-leg showdown scheduled for January and February, moving a step closer to lifting the EFL Cup this season.
