Arsenal secured a hard-fought victory over Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, prevailing 8-7 in a dramatic penalty shoot-out after a 1-1 draw. The match, held at the Emirates Stadium on December 23, 2025, saw Arsenal advance to the semi-finals, where they will face Chelsea.

The game was a tense affair, with both teams battling fiercely for a spot in the final four. Arsenal, under the guidance of Mikel Arteta, made several changes to their starting lineup, giving opportunities to players like Gabriel, who made his first start since returning from an ACL injury. The first half ended goalless, with neither side able to break the deadlock.

The Gunners appeared to have sealed the victory in the 79th minute when Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix unluckily scored an own goal. However, Crystal Palace, demonstrating resilience, found a late equalizer in the 95th minute through Marc Guehi, sending the match into a penalty shoot-out.

The penalty shoot-out was a marathon, with the first 14 penalties all converted successfully. The tension mounted as each player stepped up to the spot, knowing that a miss could be decisive. Finally, Lacroix, who had an unfortunate evening, saw his penalty saved by Arsenal goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, handing Arsenal the victory.

The victory was especially sweet for Arsenal, who are currently performing strongly in the Premier League and Champions League. The win keeps them in contention for four trophies in 2026. For Crystal Palace, it was a heartbreaking end to a spirited performance. Their goalkeeper, Walter Benitez, had an outstanding game, even saving a shot from Declan Rice late in normal time to keep his team in the match.

Arsenal will now prepare for a busy January, which includes a two-legged semi-final clash against London rivals Chelsea. The Gunners will be hoping to carry their momentum into the new year and continue their quest for silverware.