Post by : Meena Ariff

Arsenal have advanced to the semifinals of the League Cup after an exhilarating 8-7 victory in a penalty shootout against Crystal Palace, following a nail-biting 1-1 draw at full-time.

The game turned on a mishap for Palace defender Maxence Lacroix, who endured a tough evening. He scored an own goal in the 80th minute, and later faltered during the shootout by missing his penalty, while every other player successfully converted their kicks.

Dominating possession throughout the match, Arsenal finally broke the deadlock when Lacroix inadvertently diverted the ball into the net while attempting to clear from an Arsenal corner. Nevertheless, Palace showed tenacity and equalized in injury time; Captain Marc Guehi reacted swiftly to a loose ball after a free kick, pushing the match to penalties.

Palace's goalkeeper, Walter Benitez, played a crucial role in keeping his team competitive, especially in the first half, where he made several important saves, including stopping efforts from Noni Madueke and a powerful header from Gabriel Jesus.

The FA Cup holders showed significant improvement in the second half but struggled to create clear chances until their late goal forced penalties.

The match had been rescheduled due to Palace's commitments in the UEFA Conference League.

Arsenal's manager, Mikel Arteta, praised his players' composure after conceding late, noting that the margin of victory could have been larger, referencing their previous narrow league win over Everton.

Palace coach Oliver Glasner acknowledged his team’s much-improved performance after the interval, commending Benitez for his pivotal saves and mentioning that his players would now take a brief respite after a demanding schedule.

Next, Arsenal will face Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League on Saturday, while Crystal Palace will host Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. Arsenal now sets their sights on a League Cup semifinal clash with Chelsea.

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