This competition may not be Mikel Arteta or Oliver Glasner’s top priority this season but that didn’t stop their sides from producing a spectacle full of blood and thunder. It was one-way traffic for Arsenal in the first half but they found Crystal Palace’s second-string goalkeeper Walter Benítez in an inspired mood as he kept his side in the contest with some fine saves.
An own goal from Maxence Lacroix looked to have booked a semi-final against Chelsea after Chris Richards had been carried off for Palace with a nasty gash to his ankle. But Marc Guéhi had other ideas and his goal in the fifth minute of injury-time took this rematch of last year’s quarter-final to penalties. The first 15 were all successful before the unfortunate Lacroix saw his spot-kick saved by Kepa Arrizabalaga to send Arsenal through in dramatic style.
Of the two sides it was Arsenal who ultimately fared better from Palace’s request to reschedule this game because of their European commitments, with Mikel Arteta able to make eight changes to the side who held their nerve in the win away at Everton on Saturday night. The only three to remain were in defence, where he was forced to field Riccardo Calafiori at centre-back after Pierro Hincapié picked up a knock on Merseyside.
Glasner admitted in the buildup that he had no choice but to select virtually an identical side to the one who were hammered by Leeds on the same evening, although there was no place for goalkeeper Dean Henderson. But while his replacement Benítez shone in a first-half Arsenal onslaught, teenager Jaydee Canvot started in an unfamiliar role at right wingback and was given a torrid time by Gabriel Martinelli.
To underline just how hectic things have been for Palace, this was captain Guéhi’s 31st start of the campaign already for club and country. By contrast, Jesus has had to wait 345 days for his first since suffering an ACL injury against Manchester United in January.
The timing of that was particularly cruel given that the Brazil striker had been on a hot run of form that was kickstarted by his hat-trick against Palace in this competition so it was apt that he should bring up a century of appearances for Arsenal against the same opponents.
The jury is still very much out on Arsenal’s £64m signing Viktor Gyökeres so Jesus must have sensed an opportunity to impress. He showed his qualities inside the first three minutes when he combined with Martinelli to set up Noni Madueke, although the England forward could only shoot weakly at Benítez. Tyrick Mitchell fired over after a brilliant pass around the corner from Jean-Philippe Mateta but that was as close as Palace would come in the first half as Arsenal cranked up the pressure.
Martinelli was off target when they failed to clear a corner before Madueke forced Benítez into another save. Not for the last time, Canvot was left for dead by Martinelli who delivered a cross on to the forehead of Jesus but again the Palace keeper was up to the task. Only a last-ditch clearance from Richards denied him another sight of goal as Arsenal kept attacking with an onslaught of long throws and set pieces.
Palace conceded four against Leeds but were somehow able to stand firm until half-time thanks to some heroic defending and Arsenal’s wastefulness. Benítez beat away Madueke’s shot from close range before Jurriën Timber headed over yet another Martinelli cross just before the break.
It was no surprise to see Canvot hooked for the vastly more experienced Nathaniel Clyne, with Eddie Nketiah also making way against his former club. Palace immediately looked more competitive and began the second half with renewed belief. Adam Wharton wasn’t far away from registering his first goal for the club with a shot from outside the area.
Having registered 13 shots during the first half, Arsenal’s frustration was only growing as they struggled to create any more. Just as he had last year, Arteta summoned Martin Ødegaard and Bukayo Saka from the bench but Jesus could only head the former’s cross inches wide two minutes after his arrival.
There was a long delay when Richards was carried off with what looked like a nasty cut to his ankle sustained while trying to challenge Jesus, which will be of major concern for Palace given their busy schedule.
Arsenal needed Saliba to slide in and take the ball off Mateta’s toe before the resulting corner was blocked on the line. It looked like being a crucial turning point as Benítez saved again from Jesus at the other end but the ball was eventually deflected past the despairing goalkeeper off Lacroix’s toe.
Palace looked deflated but somehow found a way back when Guéhi tapped in after Jefferson Lerma won a header from Wharton’s free kick. Rice could have won it even later but was once again denied by Benítez, with more drama reserved for the epic shootout as the Argentina goalkeeper was unable to repeat his heroics.
