Arsenal Reach League Cup Semis With Shoot-Out Win Over Palace

Lacroix’s own goal put Arsenal ahead with 10 minutes remaining at the Emirates Stadium, while Marc Guehi equalized for Palace in the extra time of the 1-1 draw.

This set the stage for a penalty shoot-out in which both teams scored the first seven penalties.

William Saliba converted Arsenal’s eighth strike and Kepa dove to his right to save Lacroix’s effort and secure an 8-7 win.

It was a cathartic moment for the Spanish goalkeeper, who infamously refused to be substituted before Chelsea’s League Cup final penalty shoot-out defeat against Manchester City in 2019.

Kepa also missed a penalty kick in the Blues’ 2022 League Cup final defeat to Liverpool.

The Gunners will face London rivals Chelsea in a two-legged semi-final in January and February, while Manchester City will face holders Newcastle in the other last four encounter.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said, “We produced too many goals and we should have scored many more. If you don’t close the games, it is always possible to concede goals.”

“We had some great individual performances, Kepa, his commitment to the group is incredible.

“I think the players were very calm towards the penalties and in the end Kepa managed to save one. We are where we want to be.”

Arsenal advance to the League Cup semi-finals for the second consecutive year as they chase their first trophy since winning the FA Cup in 2020.

The north Londoners have only won the League Cup twice; Their last victory came in 1992-93, before their current squad was born.

After celebrating Christmas on Thursday, Arteta’s men will turn their attention back to the title race with home games against Brighton and third-placed Aston Villa to close out 2025.

Winning a first English title since 2004 is obviously Arsenal’s main aim this season, but lifting the League Cup in March would be a significant boost for a club that has been starved for silverware in recent years.

Arteta made eight changes to the team that won at Everton on Saturday but still fielded a strong squad featuring William Saliba, Mikel Merino, Eberechi Eze, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus.

Jesus, who ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in January, played for the first time in 345 days after returning to the field as a substitute against Club Brugge at the beginning of this month.

– Kepa’s salvation –

Noni Madueke, another of Arteta’s changes, should have put Arsenal ahead early but was twice denied by Palace goalkeeper Walter Benitez, who put in an inspired performance.

Benitez dived to his left to keep out Jesus’ close-range header and made another fine save, also repelling another blast from Madueke.

Arteta must have been wondering whether Arsenal would make the breakthrough when Jurrien Timber volleyed in the lead from 10 yards.

Arteta sent on Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard in the second half, the latter making an immediate impact with a cross that Jesus narrowly nodded in.

Arsenal finally broke the tie in the 80th minute.

Not for the first time this season, it was the Gunners’ ball that caused the damage as Saka’s corner caused chaos and Lacroix, under pressure from Saliba, passed Benitez trying to clear the ball.

However, Palace gave Arsenal their own set-piece medicine and equalized with their first shot on target in the 95th minute.

Adam Wharton’s free kick was headed in by Jefferson Lerma and Guehi slotted the ball into the goal from close range.

Kepa became Arsenal’s savior after a frustrating penalty shoot-out.