On a night of high drama at the Emirates, Arsenal booked their place in the EFL Cup semi-finals with a nerve-shredding penalty shootout victory over Crystal Palace. After a tense 1-1 draw in regulation time, it took 16 penalties to separate the sides, with goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga emerging as the hero.
Mikel Arteta: "Ideally, we finish the game in 90 minutes. We created enough chances to win two games today. But in cup football, if you don't take your chances, you suffer. The character we showed in the shootout was incredible. To score eight penalties in a row shows great mental strength."
For 80 minutes, it looked like being a frustrating night for the Gunners. Despite dominating possession and out-shooting Palace 25 to 8, Arsenal couldn't find a way past an inspired Walter Benítez in the Palace goal. The breakthrough finally came with ten minutes effectively left on the clock, and it came via a slice of luck. A whipped Bukayo Saka corner was deflected into his own net by Palace defender Maxence Lacroix.
Relief washed over the Emirates, but it was short-lived. In the 95th minute, with virtually the last action of the game, Palace snatched an equalizer. Marc Guéhi rose highest to sweep home a header from Jefferson Lerma, stunning the home crowd and sending the tie straight to penalties.
The shootout was of the highest quality. Both teams were flawless for the first 14 kicks, scoring seven each. Arsenal's takers—Odegaard, Saka, Trossard, Martinelli, Rice, Havertz, and Gabriel—all held their nerve. Then, Jakub Kiwior stepped up to score Arsenal's eighth. The pressure shifted to Maxence Lacroix, the scorer of the own goal. Kepa Arrizabalaga guessed right, diving to his left to palm away the defender's effort and win the tie for Arsenal.
The victory sets up a tantalizing semi-final clash with London rivals Chelsea.
Kepa Arrizabalaga: "I try to do my homework on the shooters, but in the end, it's instinct. It was a crazy shootout, everyone scored! I'm happy I could make the save at the end to help the team. We want to win this trophy."
The Man of the Match award goes to Kepa Arrizabalaga. While he had little to do for much of the game, his moment came when it mattered most. Saving the decisive penalty to send his team to a semi-final is the definition of a match-winning contribution.
Arsenal return to Premier League action on December 27, hosting Brighton & Hove Albion as they look to maintain their lead at the top of the table.
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