Arsenal’s qualification for the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup was determined by a series of penalty kicks that ended with the score 8-7 in favor of the Mikel Arteta-led side. According to source media, this round was crucial after a match at the Emirates Stadium ended 1-1 during normal time, resulting in the tie being decided by penalty shootout and Arsenal being allowed to play Chelsea in the next phase of the tournament.
The media reported that the tie was maintained in the 90 minutes after Crystal Palace forced an equalizer in added time. Arsenal had taken the lead in the 80th minute thanks to an own goal from Maxence Lacroix, who deflected the ball into his own goal from a corner in a confusing move. This action resulted in several rebounds and ended with the locals taking the lead on the scoreboard. Shortly afterwards, Crystal Palace managed to equalize thanks to Marc Guehi, who took advantage of a long header from Jefferson Lerma and shot into the net from the six-yard box, the source said.
One of the features of the competition in this case is the lack of extra time after the draw, which immediately led to a penalty shootout. According to the available media report, Arsenal started shooting and did not miss any of their eight attempts from eleven meters. Arteta’s players showed effectiveness with every shot and kept the pressure on the visiting team at all times. On the Crystal Palace side, the drama continued until the eighth shot when Lacroix missed his and ended his day with another setback after the previous own goal.
With this result, Arsenal joins Chelsea, Newcastle United and Manchester City as the four teams aiming for the Carabao Cup title. Previously, these clubs had been promoted, leaving behind Cardiff, Brentford and Fulham, said the same source. The definition of this fifth round completed the table of semi-finalists: the “Blues” and the “Gunners” face each other, while Newcastle United and Manchester City face each other in the other semi-final.
The game at the Emirates Stadium was characterized by uncertainty until the final whistle. The pressure fell on Lacroix, an unwilling protagonist in the two decisive actions that influenced Crystal Palace’s fate: first with the own goal that favored Arsenal, and then with the missed penalty that led to his team’s elimination. This elimination gives Arsenal the opportunity to fight for a domestic final again, in a tournament that is already looming for high-level confrontations in the next round, the source said.
Arsenal’s journey to this point highlights the demands of the tournament in which the major Premier League teams compete. The lack of extra time, characteristic of the Carabao Cup at this stage, increases pressure on games decided in regular time or from the penalty spot, as media coverage made clear.
Finally, the classification achieved at the Emirates Stadium not only closes the fifth round, but also confirms the attractiveness of the next confrontation between Arsenal and Chelsea, which is included in the series between Newcastle and Manchester City. The solution to the decisive penalty shootout described by the source will alert Arsenal fans to their team’s next involvement in the English Cup tournament.
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