Player Ratings: Arsenal beat Palace on penalties to reach League Cup last four 

Maxence Lacroix scores own-goal then misses crucial penalty to send Gunners into Carabao Cup semi-finals 

Find out who impressed with View From The Armchair's Player Ratings after a dramatic evening at the Emirates

Kepa: 8/10 - barely had a touch to make in the first half as Artetaball takes control of most of the possession, a spirited second half by Palace, is rewarded as Mark Guehi scores a 95th minute equaliser for Palace to take this game to penalties.

Jurrien Timber: 8/10 - looks like he has been given the just go anywhere and cause chaos role tonight instead of Calafiori. Headed over the bar when he might have hit the target on 42 minutes.

William Saliba: 9/10 - running the show tonight at the back, also joining in with the attacks as Arsenal press, his best work is undone in injury time as Palace get the leveller. Arsenal's best player for me tonight.

Riccardo Calafiori: 8/10 - had to be disciplined alongside Saliba tonight, by and large he mostly was.

Myles Lewis Skelly: 8/10 - involved in most of Arsenal best patterns of play down the left hand side, will be grateful to get this amount of minutes under his belt at last this season.

Ebere Eze: 7/10 - keen to show off his defensive duties in his first start since the Villa game, largely anonymous and unable to repeat his goa scoring best form when he last played against former club Palace.

Christian Norgaard: 8/10 - firing in the long throws as Set Piece FC went looking for the opener. Tried an audacious buddy holly that sailed wide late on.

Mikel Merino (C): 8/10 - named as captain tonight, by Arteta presumably, not the online fanbase who will no doubt be disgusted Declan Rice wasn’t chosen for the role, football manager is a thing ya know. A decent performance from the former Bee.

Noni Madueke: 7/10 - scuffed an early chance after being put through by Martinelli, continued knocking at the door with a fierce shot just before half time. Made way for Saka with 20 minutes remaining.

Gabriel Jesus: 8/10 - first start since his injury, great save from his header on the goal line to deny him on 24 minutes, super close with another header on 69 minutes, inches wide of the post, goes closest all night on 79, as Arsenal rip palace apart on the break, from the resulting corner it’s 1-0 to the Gunners.

Gabriel Martinelli: 8/10 - wreaking havoc down the left as Arsenal enjoy huge swathes of possession in the first half, ripping his opponent a new one every time he gets possession, subbed off after getting a knock on his knee for Trossard on 59 mins.

Substitutes:

Leo Trossard: 7/10 - our Belgian silver haired, chestnut stealing super duper secret squirrel of a poacher is sent on to do what he does best, get us a goal, don’t care how, don’t care what part of the body it comes off either, not to be, we penalties it is.

Martin Odegaard: 7/10 - on for Eze 66 mins, instantly pulling strings and whipping in balls into dangerous areas, unable to craft the second goal that would make this particular bum sat on his sofa at home a little bit less squeeky.

Bukayo Saka: 7/10 - on for Madueke 66 mins the big guns enter the fray, the Greenford trouble maker delivers the corner on 79 minutes that bobbles its way into the net for 1-0 COYG!

Declan Rice: 7/10 - sent on for Jesus to seal the deal and get the boys over the line without conceding a late equaliser. uUnable to do so as Mark Guehi scored the Eagles' leveller on 95 minutes to take us to penalties.

Penalties:

Odegaard steps up first - sends the keeper tje wrong way, great start.

Mateta - rolls it in, gives the keeper the eyes 1-1

Rice : bosh, fires it down the middle 2-1

Devenny : with ease and some aplomb 2-2

Saka : low and to the right 3-2 Arsenal.

Hughes : looking white as a sheet, no problem it’s 3-3

Trossard : 4-3 looking greyer the usual, wow that was super cool that top bins 4-3 Germanic precision from the spot there under pressure.

Someone for Palace : it’s 4-4

Up steps Merino : yes it’s 5-4

Lerma : makes it 5-5 as cool as ya like.

Up steps Callaferrari : get in it’s 6-5 here incredible scenes Jeff.

Wharton steps up, no pressure, into the side netting hasn’t been a bad penalty yet it’s 6-6

Timber steps up : come on, slaps it home no worries, 7-6

Miss this whoever you are: Uche sends Kepa the wrong way. It’s 7-7

Up steps Saliba: cool as ya like as he cements my POTM for the night 8-7

Lacroix come on Kepa save one. He saves it.

It’s over bonus point for Kepa, it’s 8-7 on penalties, the dream lives on as we cement our place in the semi-finals against Chelsea, get in there, what a relief.

Save travels home Gooners, that was too close for comfort but we squeak home with the win so that everyone can celebrate their Xmas in style.

Don’t forget to get your printed copy of the Gooner, the perfect companion for the train ride home. COYG!

Getcha Gooner: Our Steve Ashford tribute issue is out for Arsenal vs Palace? By Lumi pic.twitter.com/gHgOl9tBVn

— The Gooner (@GoonerFanzine) December 22, 2025