Arsenal booked their place in the Carabao Cup Semi-Finals after a dramatic night at the Emirates Stadium, with Kepa Arrizabalaga the hero in a nerve-shredding penalty shootout.
The Gunners looked to have sealed the win in normal time when Maxence Lacroix turned the ball into his own net on 80 minutes, desperately trying to clear after an Arsenal corner. But Palace weren’t done.
Deep into stoppage time, Adam Wharton’s teasing free-kick caused chaos in the box, Jefferson Lerma nodded down, and Marc Guehi pounced to smash home from close range – sending the away fans wild and forcing extra time.
Declan Rice almost snatched it at the death, but Walter Benítez – outstanding all evening – denied him with a superb save.
The stand-in Palace keeper had already frustrated Gabriel Jesus twice and was keeping his side alive.
With nothing to separate the teams, it came down to spot-kicks.
Both sides were flawless until Lacroix stepped up at 8-7.
Kepa guessed right, diving low to his right to keep it out and spark wild celebrations inside the Emirates.
Arsenal march on to the last four, where they’ll face London rivals Chelsea over two legs for a place at Wembley.
