Arsenal booked their place in the Carabao Cup semi-finals after a nerve-shredding and marathon 8-7 penalty shoot-out victory over Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night.
A Tale of Two Goalkeepers and a Dramatic Finish
The quarter-final clash, which ultimately finished 1-1 after normal time, was a story of two goalkeepers. For much of the evening, Walter Benitez, Palace's second-choice keeper, looked set to be the hero with a string of outstanding saves that kept Arsenal at bay.
The home side dominated the first half, enjoying around 80% possession, but found Benitez in inspired form. He repeatedly denied Noni Madueke, who might have had a hat-trick on another night, and also pulled off a fantastic double save to thwart Gabriel Jesus and Madueke's follow-up.
Arsenal's pressure finally told with just ten minutes of normal time remaining. The Gunners broke the deadlock in unfortunate fashion for Palace defender Maxence Lacroix, who turned Bukayo Saka's corner into his own net under pressure.
Just as Arsenal thought they had done enough, Crystal Palace sensationally equalised deep into stoppage time. In the 95th minute, Marc Guehi swept home from close range after Jefferson Lerma met Adam Wharton's set-piece with a clever header.
The Penalty Shoot-Out Drama
The match proceeded straight to penalties, where both sides displayed remarkable composure. Each of the first fourteen takers found the net, with William Saliba finally putting Arsenal 8-7 ahead.
The drama culminated when Kepa Arrizabalaga saved Lacroix's subsequent spot-kick, sealing a semi-final berth for Mikel Arteta's side and compounding a miserable personal evening for the Palace defender.
What Happens Next for Arsenal?
With this victory, Arsenal now advance to a two-legged Carabao Cup semi-final against London rivals Chelsea. The first leg is scheduled to be played at Stamford Bridge on January 14, with the return fixture at the Emirates Stadium set for February 3. The winner will earn a coveted place in the Wembley final.
The match was not without concern for Palace, as defender Chris Richards was stretchered off in the second half with an injury to his right ankle, causing a significant delay in play.
