Arsenal Hold Their Nerve in Dramatic Penalty Shootout to Edge Past Crystal Palace

Arsenal booked their place in the Carabao Cup semifinals after a thrilling quarterfinal against Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium. The match ended 1-1 after normal time, but Arsenal eventually prevailed 8-7 on penalties in a shootout that tested the nerves of both teams.

The result was particularly dramatic because Arsenal had controlled much of the game and looked set to win before Crystal Palace scored a very late equaliser. Mikel Arteta admitted afterward that conceding so close to the final whistle was emotionally difficult, but he was pleased with the way his players responded.

Arsenal Dominate but Cannot Find a First-Half Goal

Arsenal started the game strongly and spent long periods in control of possession. The Gunners created several promising opportunities but were unable to convert their pressure into a goal.

Crystal Palace goalkeeper Walter Benítez played a major role in keeping his team in the contest. He produced important saves to deny Noni Madueke, Gabriel Jesus and Eberechi Eze, frustrating Arsenal’s attack.

Despite Arsenal’s dominance and repeated pressure around the Palace penalty area, the two teams went into halftime level at 0-0.

Arsenal Finally Break the Deadlock

The breakthrough eventually arrived with around 10 minutes remaining.

Arsenal won a corner delivered by Bukayo Saka, with Riccardo Calafiori getting a touch to send the ball into a dangerous area. William Saliba attempted to make contact, and during the resulting scramble, Palace defender Maxence Lacroix accidentally turned the ball into his own net.

Arsenal had finally found the goal their performance appeared to deserve, and the Gunners looked to have done enough to secure their place in the semifinals.

But the drama was far from over.

Crystal Palace Equalise in Stoppage Time

Just when Arsenal appeared ready to celebrate, Crystal Palace produced a stunning late response.

In the fifth minute of stoppage time, Jefferson Lerma flicked on a corner and Palace captain Marc Guéhi reacted quickly to get a touch on the ball. His effort went through goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, bringing Palace level at 1-1.

Remarkably, it was Palace’s first shot on target of the match.

The late equaliser completely changed the mood inside the Emirates and sent the quarterfinal into a penalty shootout.

Arsenal Win a Tense Penalty Shootout

The penalty shootout turned into another dramatic battle.

Both sides showed tremendous composure from the spot, with the first 15 penalties converted successfully. Eventually, the pressure fell on Lacroix, who had already endured an unfortunate moment earlier in the match.

This time, Arsenal goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga became the hero.

Kepa dived to his right and made the decisive save, sending Arsenal through to the Carabao Cup semifinals after an extraordinary 8-7 shootout victory.

Mikel Arteta Praises Kepa and Arsenal’s Mental Strength

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was pleased with the way his team handled the pressure but admitted that the match should have been settled much earlier.

Arsenal had created enough opportunities to score several goals, but their failure to take those chances allowed Palace to remain in the game until the final moments.

Arteta particularly praised Kepa for producing the crucial save during the shootout. He also highlighted the composure shown by the players after Palace’s late equaliser.

The Arsenal manager believes his squad is becoming increasingly capable of winning matches in different situations and dealing with the pressure of a demanding schedule.

Arsenal Continue Strong Run of Form

The victory extended Arsenal’s winning run to four consecutive matches in all competitions.

It was also their second victory within just three days, following an important Premier League win over Everton.

Arsenal now turn their attention toward the next stage of the Carabao Cup, where they are scheduled to face Chelsea in the semifinals.

The victory against Crystal Palace showed that Arsenal can find different ways to win, even when a match does not go according to plan.

Crystal Palace Face Injury Concern

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner also provided an update on defender Chris Richards, who was forced to leave the field after suffering a deep cut to his foot.

Richards required stitches following the injury. Glasner indicated that the problem did not initially appear to be extremely serious, although there was uncertainty over whether the defender would be fit for the club’s upcoming fixtures.

Palace will now have to assess his recovery before making a decision about his availability.

Liverpool’s Arne Slot Criticises Micky van de Ven Tackle After Alexander Isak Injury

Elsewhere in the Premier League, Liverpool manager Arne Slot expressed strong criticism following a challenge involving Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven that left Liverpool striker Alexander Isak seriously injured.

Liverpool eventually won the match 2-1, but the victory came at a significant cost as Isak suffered a serious ankle injury while scoring Liverpool’s opening goal.

Alexander Isak Suffers Serious Injury

Isak was injured after Van de Ven attempted a challenge inside the penalty area. The incident occurred as Isak scored, but no foul or card was awarded at the time.

Further medical examinations later revealed that Isak had suffered a broken ankle and fibula.

The striker subsequently underwent surgery and is expected to spend several months on the sidelines, leaving Liverpool without one of their key attacking options for a significant period.

Arne Slot Calls the Challenge Reckless

Liverpool boss Arne Slot was clearly unhappy with the nature of the challenge.

He described the tackle as reckless and argued that challenges of that type can easily result in serious injuries.

Slot also rejected the suggestion that Isak’s injury was simply the result of Liverpool’s demanding schedule. In his view, the incident was caused by the nature of the challenge rather than player workload.

Liverpool have already dealt with other fitness problems this season, including injuries affecting players such as Cody Gakpo and Joe Gomez. However, Isak’s absence represents another major concern for the club.

Liverpool Face a Difficult Period Ahead

Although Liverpool managed to secure a 2-1 victory over Tottenham, Isak’s injury has taken some of the shine away from the result.

The striker’s absence could force Slot to adjust his attacking plans during the coming months. Liverpool will need other forwards to take greater responsibility while Isak works his way back to full fitness.

For Arsenal, meanwhile, the dramatic win over Crystal Palace provides another confidence boost as they continue their fight across multiple competitions. The Carabao Cup semifinal against Chelsea will now offer another major test for Arteta’s side.