Arsenal are through to the Carabao Cup semi-finals after beating Crystal Palace on penalties at the Emirates.
Gabriel Jesus made his 100th appearance for Arsenal, his first start for nearly a year, but in the first half, Walter Benitez, the Palace ‘keeper, denied Noni Madueke and Jesus with some brilliant saves while Gabriel Martinelli caused problems down the left as Arsenal created a host of chances.
In the second half, though, Palace threatened more as they looked to make Arsenal pay. An 80th-minute own goal from Maxence Lacroix (who then missed the decisive penalty) put Arsenal ahead before Marc Guehi equalised late from a header to send the game to penalties.
Arsenal’s semi-final first leg is at Stamford Bridge on January 14. The other semi-final is between Newcastle United and Manchester City.
Kaya Kaynak breaks down the talking points from the Emirates.
How big was this for Arsenal’s season?
Let’s be clear, you won’t find many people who will be satisfied if the Carabao Cup is all Arsenal win this year. But this competition still feels so significant for the club and for Mikel Arteta.
The talk about Arsenal’s failure to win a trophy since 2020 has been deafening and feels like it’s the main factor heaping the pressure on in the title race. The Carabao Cup isn’t the one Arteta wants, but it can help to silence those critics.
The win does mean Arsenal face a packed January with no fewer than nine fixtures. But Arteta has assembled a squad deep enough to cope with these kinds of tightly packed fixture lists.
The Spaniard has been in a dressing room at Manchester City where England’s third-tier domestic trophy was seen as a springboard to bigger things. He’ll hope Arsenal can repeat that.
Does Jesus help Martinelli?
Gabriel Jesus had to wait 345 days for his latest Arsenal start, but it took him just 25 minutes to remind everyone what he has to offer. In that time, he managed twice as many successful passes as Viktor Gyokeres did at Everton on Saturday. Jesus may not have the goal threat of an elite striker, but when he isn’t scoring, he offers more than the man Arsenal signed to provide that.
Gabriel Jesus works well with Gabriel Martinelli (Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
It’s no coincidence Gabriel Martinelli looked dangerous down the left with his compatriot back at No 9. Jesus’ movement allows him to isolate his full back one-on-one, and Martinelli could have walked away with three first-half assists.
Did Nwaneri deserve a chance?
For all the excitement over Arsenal’s summer signings, there was a slightly uncomfortable question — where does Ethan Nwaneri fit?
He has Martin Odegaard, Eberechi Eze and Mikel Merino ahead of him in the attacking midfield spots, while Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke are starting in front of him on the right. As that competition for a starting spot proved insurmountable once again, it was hard not to ask — if Nwaneri isn’t starting this game, then when exactly is he going to start?
(Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
The fact is, he has played a lot of football for someone his age — at just 18, he has 50 Arsenal appearances. But even when Arsenal found themselves chasing a goal in the second half, it was Saka and Odegaard who Arteta turned to instead of the Hale Ender.
It’s difficult not to feel his development is in danger of stalling after such a stellar breakout last season.
What next for Arsenal?
Saturday, December 27: Brighton (Home), Premier League, 3pm UK, 10am ET