Penalty Drama: Arsenal Narrowly Advances, Ups and Downs Exposed

I. Ups and Downs: A Thrilling Contest Intertwined with Late Winners and Equalizers

Kepa Arrizabalaga emerged as Arsenal’s hero, saving Maxence Lacroix’s decisive penalty to help the Gunners beat Crystal Palace on penalties and advance to the Carabao Cup semi-finals in a match full of late drama. Arsenal thought they had won the game when the unfortunate Lacroix turned the ball into his own net while attempting to clear an Arsenal corner in the 80th minute, scoring an own goal.

However, Crystal Palace produced a dramatic equalizer in the 5th minute of stoppage time. Adam Wharton delivered a free-kick, and Marc Guehi was the first to react, tapping home from close range after Jefferson Lerma’s knock-down. Declan Rice then had the last chance to win the game for Arsenal, but he failed to get past the impressive Walter Benítez.

The Crystal Palace substitute goalkeeper was his side’s best player throughout the match, making two brilliant saves to deny Gabriel Jesus and keep the score level until the final stages. In a high-quality penalty shootout, with the score at 8-7, Arrizabalaga dived quickly to his right to save Lacroix’s shot, securing Arsenal’s victory and a semi-final clash with London rivals Chelsea.

II. Arsenal: Beyond Advancement, Arteta Can’t Hide His Disappointment

Mikel Arteta will be pleased with Arsenal’s progression to the semi-finals via a penalty shootout, but the way his players handled the game will surely have disappointed the Arsenal manager. Arsenal were once again far from their best, wasting numerous chances before Lacroix’s late own goal.

Arteta made eight changes to the team that beat Everton 1-0 at the weekend, with Gabriel Jesus starting for Arsenal for the first time in 345 days following an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury—and the team’s performance looked disjointed. Even by his own standards, Arteta was unusually emotional in the technical area as the game entered the final minutes.

William Saliba needlessly conceded a free-kick in stoppage time that directly led to Crystal Palace’s equalizer, but fortunately for him, his Arsenal teammates ensured his mistake did not cost the team their place. Arsenal have had a slightly inconsistent run of form recently, drawing with Sunderland and Chelsea, and losing to Aston Villa.

While Arsenal have started a new winning streak, their current level of performance is still far from the heights set earlier this season. As a team that showed strong competitiveness at the start of the season, Arsenal’s performance in this cup game exposed teething problems following squad rotation.

III. Crystal Palace: Brave Fight Ends in Defeat but Earns Glory, Fatigue Shows Amid Multi-Front Combat

For Crystal Palace, 2025 has been one of the best years in the club’s history, with the FA Cup, Community Shield, and their first European campaign underway. However, there is a sense that things could be better if manager Oliver Glasner had more squad options, especially as the Eagles stumble amid a packed fixture list.

Glasner made three changes to the team that lost heavily at Leeds United, and while Crystal Palace looked tired due to their small squad, they remained extremely resilient. This resilience helped them equalize late, even with key players like Daniel Muñoz injured and Chris Richards suffering a game-time injury.

Striker Jean-Philippe Mateta also played through an injury, yet Glasner kept Crystal Palace competitive across competitions. The Eagles came close to the semi-finals, and despite defeat, they should be proud of their fighting spirit against Arsenal, a top-tier opponent.

Crystal Palace’s performance deserves recognition. Facing an Arsenal side with greater squad depth, they resisted stubbornly despite being understrength and showcased resilience with a late equalizer. However, physical pressure from multi-front combat and limited squad depth are growing concerns that may hinder future performances.

Nevertheless, under Glasner’s leadership, Crystal Palace have improved significantly. Even without advancing to the Carabao Cup semi-finals, their season achievements satisfy fans. For Arsenal, the focus now shifts to the upcoming London derby semi-final against Chelsea, where a more consistent display is essential.