Arsenal 1-1 Crystal Palace: Gunners win 8-7 on penalties to reach Carabao Cup semi-finals 

Arsenal beat Crystal Palace 8-7 on penalties following a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes to send the Gunners into the last four of the League Cup, where they will take on Chelsea over two legs.

Mikel Arteta’s side reached the semi-finals after a dramatic finale that saw Kepa save the unfortunate Max Lacroix's spot-kick after 15 penalties had been perfectly slotted home.

Lacroix’s miss capped an evening to forget for the Eagles player after his late own goal appeared to be enough to allow Arsenal to ease past the Eagles. That was before Marc Guehi levelled with a last-gasp equaliser in the 95th minutes to stun the home side.

Insert Arteta quote

A matter of hours before Christmas we saw Gabriel appear.

While the Brazilian striker might not be an angel, his story is certainly worth repeating, as the Arsenal striker started for the Gunners for the first time since after recovering from his ACL injury.

Mikel Merino captained the side in midfield, while former Eagle Eberechi Eze was handed another start against his former club, after scoring the only goal of their Premier League clash against the south Londoners back in late October.

Piero Hincapie missed the match after picking up a shoulder injury at the weekend, as Arsenal boss made eight changes from the team that beat Everton 1-0 on Merseyside last time out. Only Jurrien Timber, William Saliba and Riccardo Calafiori remain from the victory at the Toffees impressive new stadium at Bramley Moore Dock that ensured the Gunners are top on Christmas Day.

Sixteen-year-old defender Marli Salmon is on the bench.

Eagles boss Oliver Glasner makes three changes from Crystal Palace’s 4-1 loss at Leeds, with keeper Dean Henderson benched with Walter Benitez replacing the former Manchester United net minder. Jaydee Canvot comes in for Nathaniel Clyne at right-wing back. The third switch is in midfield as Jefferson Lerma starts instead of Will Hughes.

On a chilly evening in North London Jesus played Noni Madueke through in the opening moments, but Benitez gathered from the former Chelsea attacker, to foil what was an excellent chance.

On 13 minutes Martinelli took a run up in the box but his effort flew wide, when well-placed.

The lively Martinelli was certainly causing Palace’s young Jaydee Canvot plenty of problems early on.

Twelve minutes later the Arsenal No11’s in-swinging cross from the left was glanced on by Jesus - only for Benitez to show excellent footwork and athleticism to drop sharply down to his left and prevent the ball from entering the net.

It was Calafiori’s turn to try his luck shortly afterwards, but his effort flew wide as the home side pressed for an opener. Benitez then saved from Madueke from close range after Timber’s cross into the box.

Moments later Timber had a shot blocked, prior to the busy Netherlands international’s header flying narrowly over the bar. The chance coming after Martinelli’s skinned the shellshocked Canvot for Timber’s cross, as Glasner’s obdurate Palace somehow managed to make it to half time with the score goalless.

Glasner wisely made two changes at the interval, Justin Devenny for largely anonymous former Gunner Eddie Nketiah in what appeared to be a bid to shore up the midfield. While Nathaniel Clyne replaced the struggling Canvot.

You feel that was the best option for the latter after being given a testing opening 45 minutes by Martinelli. Nevertheless it was a brave performance in an unfamiliar position from the youngster who normally plays centre-back.

With just over 20 minutes remaining, Arteta made a strong double substitution, bringing on Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard, for Eze and Madueke.

The Gunners skipper nearly posted an assist with practically his first touch, but his cross into the box saw Jesus header fly narrowly wide on 70 minutes, the Gunners striker beating marker Chris Richards to the ball. Whisper it but could the Brazil star have a bigger part to play as Arsenal’s centre-forward ahead of Viktor Gyokeres over the coming weeks and months. Time will tell.

Sadly, it was to be Richards last action as the defender picked up a seemingly innocuous injury that saw the Palace player stretchered off shortly afterwards.

Jesus immediately attempted to capitalise on the loss, when bearing down on goal but fired his shot over the bar.

Fit again William Saliba underlined his quality with a superb interception to take the ball off Mateta, just as the powerful Palace forward was about to pull the trigger.

The resulting corner came to nothing as Arsenal swept swiftly upfield culminating in Benitez saving well from Jesus effort.

However, the pressure finally told on 80 minutes, when Saka’s in-swinging corner to the back post was headed down by Califiori. Palace’s backline inside the six-yard box blocked, prior to also keeping out Timber’s shot. But the ball ricochets off the foot of Max Lacroix, with Mateta on the line unable keep it out, as Arsenal finally went 1-0 up. Prompting the delighted crowd to ring out: ‘Set piece again, ole, ole’.

Just as fans started to sing about a trip to Wembley - albeit a visit to the national stadium that would require emerging triumphant after a two -legged semi-final clash against Chelsea, Palace showed their resolve and resilience by equalising.

The leveller coming after Jefferson Lerma beat Calafiori to the ball from Adam Wharton’s cross into the Gunners box, leaving Guehi to capitalise by sweeping past Kepa from close range to equalise in the 95th minute here at the Emirates as their fans celebrated wildly at the other end.

That was before Palace’s fans had to endure their penalty heartbreak as the stadium erupted in joy after Kepa’s save from Lacroix.