Arsenal beat Crystal Palace on penalties to reach English League Cup semi-finals

Arsenal secured a place in the semi-finals of the English League Cup by eliminating Crystal Palace on penalties, 8-7, after a 1-1 draw in normal time, at the Emirates Stadium, this Tuesday (23). Maxence Lacroix scored against the Gunners, while Marc Guéhi scored for the visitors in normal time. On penalties, the first 15 shots were converted, but it was once again up to Lacroix to be the bad guy. The defender stopped on Kepa, who made the decisive save and confirmed the classification.

This is how the League Cup semi-finals were defined. Arsenal face Chelsea, while Manchester City and Newcastle battle it out for the other place in the final.

In addition, the match also marked the return of Gabriel Jesus as a starter after almost a year of absence due to a serious left knee injury. However, the Brazilian ended up being replaced by Declan Rice in the 41st minute of the second half.

Team goals 🤙

Shot with Google Pixel 🤳 pic.twitter.com/Z1Wj4VuMTg

– Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 23, 2025

The game

Even with ample dominance, Arsenal struggled to convert volume into goals: they finished 25 times, managed just seven shots on target and needed an own goal to open the scoring. The action took place in the 35th minute of the second half, from a corner. Bukayo Saka lifted the ball into the area, there was a confused deflection between the players, and Maxence Lacroix, trying to clear it before Saliba, ended up sending it against his own goal.

Crystal Palace reacted as the lights went out. In the 50th minute of the second half, Marc Guéhi appeared after another corner, took advantage of Jefferson Lerma’s deflection and pushed it towards goal, Palace’s only shot of the entire match.

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