Arsenal reach the League Cup semi-finals after beating Crystal Palace 8-7 on penalties, with goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga saving the decisive spot-kick
KEPA Arrizabalaga was Arsenal’s hero with a decisive penalty shoot-out save that completed a miserable evening for Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix.
Lacroix’s own goal put Arsenal ahead with 10 minutes left at the Emirates Stadium before Marc Guehi snatched Palace’s stoppage-time equaliser in a 1-1 draw.
That set the stage for a shoot-out in which both teams scored their first seven penalties.
William Saliba converted Arsenal’s eighth kick and Kepa dived to his right to save Lacroix’s effort to secure an 8-7 victory.
It was a cathartic moment for the Spanish goalkeeper, who infamously refused to be substituted before Chelsea’s League Cup final penalty shoot-out defeat in 2019.
Kepa also missed a spot-kick in Chelsea’s 2022 League Cup final shoot-out loss to Liverpool.
The Gunners will play London rivals Chelsea in the semi-finals over two legs in January and February.
“We generated a lot and should have scored many more goals,” Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said.
“I think the players were so composed with the penalties and in the end, Kepa managed to save one.”
Arsenal are into the League Cup semi-finals for a second successive year as they chase their first trophy since winning the FA Cup in 2020.
The north Londoners have only won the League Cup twice, with their last triumph coming in the 1992-93 season.
Arteta made eight changes to the side that won at Everton but still fielded a strong line-up featuring Gabriel Jesus.
Jesus started for the first time in 345 days after recovering from a serious knee injury.
Palace goalkeeper Walter Benitez produced an inspired performance with a series of fine first-half saves.
Arsenal finally broke the stalemate in the 80th minute from a Bukayo Saka corner that Lacroix turned into his own net.
Palace equalised with their first shot on target in the 95th minute through Guehi.
After a host of nerveless penalties in the shoot-out, Kepa ended as Arsenal’s saviour.
