Arsenal narrowly reached the League Cup semi-finals, setting up a big clash with Chelsea

Following an intense pursuit and a decisive penalty shootout versus Crystal Palace, Arsenal earned their place in the League Cup semi-finals to meet Chelsea, with the other semi-final pairing being Man City against Newcastle.

Arsenal entered the League Cup quarter-finals with significant changes in personnel as coach Mikel Arteta made eight adjustments compared to the victory over Everton in the Premier League. Most notably, Gabriel Jesus started for the first time in over a month, marking his 100th appearance for the “Gunners.” Despite this, home advantage allowed Arsenal to quickly take control of the game.

In the first half, Arsenal completely dominated Crystal Palace. The home team held 80% possession, launched 12 shots, and consistently attacked down both wings. Gabriel Martinelli stood out by repeatedly winning one-on-one battles on the left flank, creating many dangerous opportunities. However, the forwards’ lack of finishing, including misses by Gabriel Jesus and Riccardo Calafiori, prevented Arsenal from converting their dominance into goals.

In the second half, the match unexpectedly became more balanced. Crystal Palace played confidently, pushing forward and generating several notable attacks. Facing the risk of a goalless draw, Arteta had to bring on key players like Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, and Leandro Trossard to increase pressure.

This tactical change finally made a difference, albeit in a fortunate way. In the 80th minute, from a corner by Saka, the ball bounced chaotically inside the box before deflecting off Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix and into the net, giving Arsenal the lead. Just when it seemed the goal would settle the match, drama erupted in the fifth minute of stoppage time as Marc Guehi capitalized on a set piece to equalize for the visitors at 1-1.

With no extra time, the teams went straight to penalties. Both Arsenal and Crystal Palace scored their first seven attempts. The turning point came on the eighth shot when William Saliba calmly converted, while Lacroix failed to beat goalkeeper Kepa. Arsenal triumphed 8-7 in the shootout, officially booking their place in the semi-finals.

According to the draw, Arsenal will face Chelsea in the League Cup semi-finals, while the other match is between Man City and Newcastle. The semi-finals will be played over two legs, with the winners meeting in the final at Wembley. Having won this trophy only twice in their history, Arsenal now have a great chance to continue their pursuit of the title.