The festive spirit has been running high in the Gunners camp, as they continue to make a charge for silverware on four fronts. The EFL Cup would arguably be near the bottom of Mikel Arteta’s list of priorities, but you wouldn’t have known that judging by their rampant start here.
Palace shot-stopper Walter Benítez was twice called into action, firstly to deny Noni Madueke, before making an outstanding save to keep out a Gabriel Jesus header which seemed destined for the bottom corner.
It seemed to be only a matter of time until Arsenal found the breakthrough, but Benítez was doing everything possible to keep the score goalless after making another fine save to keep out another Madueke strike.
Gabriel Martinelli was proving to be a constant threat down the left and picked out Jurriën Timber, who agonisingly headed over the bar from the Brazilian’s cross. But Oliver Glasner’s side held onto their clean sheet heading into half time.
After weathering that first-half storm, Palace returned after the break with renewed vigour. Adam Wharton flashed his long-range effort wide, and Glasner’s side were starting to carry a threat for the first time in this contest.
Arteta responded by reshuffling his pack with Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard introduced from the bench, as the latter’s cross was headed wide by Jesus. There was no second-half onslaught, though, and Palace continued to look much more comfortable.
Their defensive resolve looked set to be tested after the enforced withdrawal of the injured Chris Richards, before Arsenal finally found the breakthrough in the 81st minute from a set-piece.
It came in the cruellest fashion from a Palace perspective, as they failed to clear their lines when Maxence Lacroix diverted the ball in for the scrappiest of own goals.
That came moments after Will Hughes had almost given the Eagles a stunning lead with a near-post flick-on, compounding the misery for Glasner’s men.
It looked like Arsenal had done enough to seal the win until Marc Guehi dramatically slotted home past Kepa Arrizabalaga in stoppage time after the Gunners failed to deal with Wharton’s incoming set-piece.
A seemingly never-ending penalty shootout ensued until Lacroix’s spot-kick was saved to finally bring this pulsating contest to a close, with the Gunners prevailing 8-7 from the spot.
On the balance of chances created alone, it is hard to begrudge Arsenal their place in the last four. A fourth successive victory across all competitions leaves Arteta’s men purring nicely, ahead of returning focus to their Premier League title charge when Brighton & Hove Albion visit the Emirates on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Palace should be commended for a gutsy display in a period where their threadbare squad is being significantly tested, despite going four games with a win (D1, L3).
Flashscore Man of the Match: Walter Benítez (Crystal Palace)