Arsenal Reach League Cup Semis with Dramatic Penalty Shoot-out Win Over Palace

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In a thrilling League Cup quarter-final, Arsenal edged past Crystal Palace with a penalty shoot-out victory at the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners will now face London rivals Chelsea in the semi-finals after a dramatic evening that saw both teams score their first seven penalties. Kepa Arrizabalaga, the Spanish goalkeeper, proved to be the hero for Arsenal, making a crucial save on Maxence Lacroix's effort that sealed an 8-7 win for the Gunners. This was a moment of redemption for Kepa, who had previously made headlines for his reluctance to be substituted in Chelsea's League Cup final penalty shoot-out defeat against Manchester City in 2019. The match itself was a closely contested 1-1 draw, with Arsenal taking the lead through an own goal by Lacroix in the 80th minute. However, Palace equalized in stoppage time, courtesy of a headed goal by Marc Guehi from a free-kick. Arsenal's victory marked their second consecutive appearance in the League Cup semi-finals, where they will face Chelsea over two legs in January and February. The Gunners are chasing their first trophy since winning the FA Cup in 2020, and lifting the League Cup in March would be a significant boost to the club. The win was also a notable milestone for Arsenal's Gabriel Jesus, who started for the first time in 345 days after returning from a lengthy injury layoff. The Gunners' next focus will be on the title race, with home games against Brighton and third-placed Aston Villa to close out 2025. Winning their first English title since 2004 remains their primary objective this season.