Kepa the hero as Arsenal edge palace in EFL Cup shoot-out

Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga was Arsenal’s English Football League (EFL) Cup quarter-final hero with the decisive penalty shoot-out save that completed a miserable evening for Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix on Tuesday.

Lacroix’s own goal put Arsenal ahead with 10 minutes left at the Emirates Stadium before Marc Guehi snatched Palace’s stoppage-time equaliser, sending the match to penalties. That set the stage for a shoot-out in which both teams scored their first seven penalties. William Saliba converted Arsenal’s eighth kick and Kepa dived to his right to save Lacroix’s effort and secure an 8-7 victory.

It was a cathartic moment for the Spanish goalkeeper, who infamously refused to be substituted before Chelsea’s League Cup final penalty shoot-out defeat against Manchester City in 2019. Kepa also missed a spot-kick in the Blues’s 2022 League Cup final shoot-out loss to Liverpool.

“We had some big individual performances. Kepa, his level of commitment with the group is just incredible. I think the players were so composed with the penalties and in the end, Kepa managed to save one. We are where we want to be,” said Arteta.

However, the Gunners boss lamented his side’s inability to close out the game early. “We generated a lot and should have scored many more goals. When you don’t close the games, it can always happen that you concede,” he added. The Gunners will play London rivals Chelsea in the semi-finals over two legs in January and February, with Manchester City facing holders Newcastle in the other last four clash.

The North Londoners have only won the EFL Cup twice, last in 1992-93. Their last silverware was the FA Cup trophy in 2020. Arteta’s men will turn their attention back to the title race with home games against Brighton and third-placed Aston Villa to close out 2025.

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