Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta described the acceptance of Crystal Palace‘s late equalizer as “emotionally difficult.” His team ultimately triumphed 8-7 in a penalty shootout after a tense 1-1 draw in the Carabao Cup quarterfinal.
At the Emirates, Arsenal could have closed the match by halftime, having missed several opportunities. Palace’s backup goalkeeper, Walter Benítez, was in outstanding form, preserving a goalless scoreline as the teams headed into the break.
The Gunners finally found the net with just 10 minutes remaining. After Riccardo Calafiori redirected Bukayo Saka’s corner, William Saliba attempted to capitalize, but in the ensuing scramble, defender Maxence Lacroix inadvertently scored an own goal.
In a dramatic finish, Palace responded with a goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time. After Jefferson Lerma headed the ball from a corner, Marc Guéhi was the first to react and slid the ball through the legs of Kepa Arrizabalaga, marking Palace’s first shot on target.
Following a flawless series of penalties from both teams, it was Lacroix who faltered again, allowing Kepa to dive to his right and secure Arsenal’s place in the next round. Despite the victory, Arteta expressed frustration at not securing the win in regulation time.
“Given the changes we made and the energy and quality we displayed against a well-disciplined team that gives away few chances, we created a lot of opportunities,” he stated. “The lead should have been larger. When that doesn’t happen, teams with quality can punish you on set pieces. It was tough to accept emotionally, but we remained composed and displayed great skill in the shootout.” Arteta praised Kepa for his crucial save at the end.
Benitez made several important saves in the first half, thwarting attempts from Noni Madueke, Gabriel Jesus, and Eberechi Eze. He saved his best for last, preventing a late effort from substitute Declan Rice.
“The scoreline should have been greater—it should have been three or four. If that had been the case, we wouldn’t have felt the pressure in the last minute,” Arteta commented. “Trophy wins hinge on small margins, so we must focus on every detail to achieve success.”
This victory marked Arsenal’s fourth consecutive win, setting them up to face Chelsea in the semifinals in January. It was their second win in just three days, after defeating Everton and regaining a two-point lead at the top of the Premier League.
“In order to win, you must adapt to different scenarios,” said Arteta. “We managed to secure victories in two tough matches.” He commended his players for maintaining such high performance levels every three days.
Palace manager Oliver Glasner remarked that he was uncertain about the availability of defender Chris Richards, who left the field on a stretcher due to a significant foot injury requiring stitches.
“He took a hit on his foot and required some stitching,” Glasner explained. “The doctor mentioned that it doesn’t seem too severe, so I remain optimistic. However, I can’t confirm if he’ll be fit for the Tottenham game on Dec. 28, but I hope he will be ready for the match against Fulham on Jan. 1.”