Dec 25, 2025
3 min read
Own goal scorer Maxence Lacroix saved his free kick as Arsenal beat Crystal Palace 8-7 on penalties to reach the League Cup semi-finals against Chelsea.
The match may not have been Mikel Arteta's or Oliver Glasner's this season, but that didn't stop their teams from putting on a spectacle full of blood and thunder.
It was a one-and-done affair for Arsenal in the first half, but Crystal Palace goalkeeper Walter Benítez was inspired to keep his side in the contest with some fine saves.
Maxence Lacroix's own goal looked to have put them through to the semi-finals against Chelsea as Chris Richards suffered a serious leg injury that required stitches.But Marc Guehi had other ideas and a goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time sent this second leg of last year's quarter-final to penalties.All of the first 15 games were successful before a hapless Lacroix saw off Kepa Arrizabalaga's shot and left Arsenal beaten by the skin of their teeth.
“We conceded a goal and it was difficult to accept emotionally after the match resumed,” Arteta said calmly.
Of the two sides, Arsenal got the better of Palace's request for a time-shift due to their European commitments, with Arteta making eight changes to a side that held their nerve in the win over Everton on Saturday night.But just like last year at this stage against Palace, it took big guns Martin Odegaard and Bokaio Saka after half-time to pull off the breakthrough before Gohey's late equaliser.
"I'm glad to work at the second half today, it's better after the first half, it's very bad," said Glasner.
The Palace manager admitted in the build-up that he had no choice but to pick a side very similar to the one beaten by Leeds on Saturday night, despite youngster Jidi Kanbat starting in an unfamiliar role on the right and Gabriel Martinelli having a torrid time.To underline just how busy things have been for Palace, it was Gohi's 31st start of the campaign for club and country.In contrast, Gabriel Jesus had to wait 345 days for his debut since suffering an ACL injury against Manchester United in January.The timing of this was particularly brutal as the Brazilian striker was in red-hot form that began with a hat-trick against Palace in that game.He deserved to bring up century after century against that opposition.
The jury is still very much out on Arsenal's £64m signing of Victor Giocerez, so Jesus must have relished the chance to impress and would have finished his performance with a goal if not for Benitez.
A free signing from PSV Eindhoven in the summer, the Argentine had to play second fiddle to Dan Henderson but proved a more than capable deputy.He was called into action in the third minute when Martinelli set up Noni Medveić, although the England striker could only shoot weakly.Terry Mitchell headed in after a brilliant pass from Jean-Philippe Matita's corner but that was as close as Palace would get in the first half as Arsenal piled on the pressure.
Martinelli failed to reach the target when he failed to recognize a corner before Madueke Benítez forced another save.It was not the last time Canvo was left for dead by Martinelli as he raised a cross to Jesus' forehead, but once again the palace goalkeeper was up to the task.Only Richards' last-ditch clearance prevented another goal from Jesus as Arsenal continued to knock on the door with long balls and set-piece attacks.
Palace lost four against Leeds but somehow managed to hold on until half-time thanks to heroic defending and Arsenal's wastefulness.It wouldn't be surprising to see Canvote turn to the more experienced Nathaniel Clyne.Palace immediately looked more competitive and started the second half with renewed conviction.After Richards tried to challenge Jesus for a header inches wide, he was sent wide, a huge blow for Palace given their busy schedule.worryHe watched the penalty shootout on crutches, but the Americans' exit was a prelude to a dramatic finale.
Arsenal needed William Saliba to run and take the ball from Mateta's thumb before the resulting corner was cleared on the line.On the other side, Benítez saved again from Jesus and the ball was finally released from Lacroix's toes by the desperate goalkeeper after more pinballs in the box.Palace looked really deflated but somehow found a way back when Guéhi tapped in after Jefferson Lerma had headed home Adam Wharton's free-kick.Declan Rice could have won it even later but was again denied by Benítez, with even more drama reserved for the epic clash.
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