London, December 24, 2025 — Arsenal survived a nerve-shredding penalty shootout to overcome Crystal Palace 8-7 on spot-kicks following a tense 1-1 draw, securing their place in the Carabao Cup semi-finals where they will face Chelsea.
The quarter-final clash at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday evening delivered late drama, individual misfortune, and a masterclass in goalkeeping as Kepa Arrizabalaga emerged as the Gunners' hero by saving Maxence Lacroix's decisive penalty.Arsenal dominated large portions of the game, particularly the first half, where they enjoyed nearly 80% possession and peppered the Palace goal with 25 shots overall. However, stand-in Eagles goalkeeper Walter Benítez produced a string of outstanding saves to deny Gabriel Jesus and Noni Madueke, keeping his side in contention despite the visitors' limited attacking threat.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 80th minute from a set-piece. Bukayo Saka's precise corner caused chaos in the Palace box, and defender Maxence Lacroix inadvertently bundled the ball into his own net under pressure from William Saliba, giving Arsenal what appeared to be a late winner.But Crystal Palace refused to surrender. In the fifth minute of stoppage time, Adam Wharton delivered a dangerous free-kick from the left. Jefferson Lerma met it with a powerful downward header, and captain Marc Guéhi was on hand to tap in from close range, sending the tie to penalties in sensational fashion.
The shootout was a showcase of composure under pressure. Both teams converted their first seven penalties flawlessly, with Arsenal's takers including Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, and William Saliba all finding the net. Palace responded through their own reliable finishers, keeping pace until the 15th spot-kick.With the score at 8-7 to Arsenal after Saliba's strike, Lacroix — already unfortunate for the own goal — stepped up for Palace. Arrizabalaga guessed correctly, diving to his right to push the ball away and spark wild celebrations among the home supporters.Mikel Arteta's side, who have shown glimpses of vulnerability in recent weeks but remain strong contenders across competitions, now turn their attention to a mouthwatering two-legged semi-final against Chelsea. The first leg is set for Stamford Bridge in mid-January, with the return at the Emirates shortly after.
For Oliver Glasner's Crystal Palace, the defeat ends their run in the competition but highlights their resilience. Despite a gruelling December schedule that included seven matches, the Eagles pushed a top Premier League side to the brink and will take positives from their spirited performance.Arsenal's next outing sees them host Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League on December 27, before closing out 2025 against Aston Villa at home three days later.In a match full of twists, Arsenal's progress was hard-fought — but the north Londoners march on in pursuit of silverware.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 80th minute from a set-piece. Bukayo Saka's precise corner caused chaos in the Palace box, and defender Maxence Lacroix inadvertently bundled the ball into his own net under pressure from William Saliba, giving Arsenal what appeared to be a late winner.But Crystal Palace refused to surrender. In the fifth minute of stoppage time, Adam Wharton delivered a dangerous free-kick from the left. Jefferson Lerma met it with a powerful downward header, and captain Marc Guéhi was on hand to tap in from close range, sending the tie to penalties in sensational fashion.
The shootout was a showcase of composure under pressure. Both teams converted their first seven penalties flawlessly, with Arsenal's takers including Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, and William Saliba all finding the net. Palace responded through their own reliable finishers, keeping pace until the 15th spot-kick.With the score at 8-7 to Arsenal after Saliba's strike, Lacroix — already unfortunate for the own goal — stepped up for Palace. Arrizabalaga guessed correctly, diving to his right to push the ball away and spark wild celebrations among the home supporters.Mikel Arteta's side, who have shown glimpses of vulnerability in recent weeks but remain strong contenders across competitions, now turn their attention to a mouthwatering two-legged semi-final against Chelsea. The first leg is set for Stamford Bridge in mid-January, with the return at the Emirates shortly after.
For Oliver Glasner's Crystal Palace, the defeat ends their run in the competition but highlights their resilience. Despite a gruelling December schedule that included seven matches, the Eagles pushed a top Premier League side to the brink and will take positives from their spirited performance.Arsenal's next outing sees them host Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League on December 27, before closing out 2025 against Aston Villa at home three days later.In a match full of twists, Arsenal's progress was hard-fought — but the north Londoners march on in pursuit of silverware.