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 team 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 needed stitches for a nasty gash to his foot. But Marc Guéhi had other ideas and his goal in the fifth minute of stoppage 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 by the skin of their teeth.
“We conceded the goal and it was emotionally tough to accept after the way the game went,” said a relieved Arteta. “But I think the margin should have been much bigger. That should have been three or four and then you’re not worried about what happens in the last minute.”
Of the two sides it was Arsenal who had fared better from Palace’s request to reschedule this game because of their European commitments, with Arteta able to make eight changes to the team who held their nerve in the win away at Everton on Saturday night. But just like last year at this stage against Palace, it needed the arrival of big guns Martin Ødegaard and Bukayo Saka after half-time to finally find the breakthrough before Guéhi’s late equaliser.
“I’m delighted with the second-half performance today, especially after the first-half performance, it was really bad,” said Glasner. “For us it’s important to build on the second-half performance and also show great character again.”
The Palace manager 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 Saturday night, although 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 Guéhi’s 31st start of the campaign already for club and country. By contrast, Gabriel 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. 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 and would have capped his performance with a goal had it not been for Benítez.
A free signing from PSV Eindhoven in the summer, the Argentine has had to play second fiddle to Dean Henderson but he showed he is a more than able deputy. He was called into action in the third minute when Martinelli set up Noni Madueke, although the England forward could only shoot weakly. 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 when he delivered a cross on to the forehead of Jesus but again the Palace goalkeeper was up to the task. Only a last-ditch clearance from Richards denied Jesus another sight of goal as Arsenal kept knocking on the door 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. It was no surprise to see Canvot hooked for the vastly more experienced Nathaniel Clyne. Palace immediately looked more competitive and began the second half with renewed belief. There was a long delay when Richards was carried off after trying to challenge Jesus for a header that went inches wide, which will be of major concern for Palace given their busy schedule. He ended up watching the penalty shootout on crutches but the American’s departure was the precursor to a dramatic finale.
Arsenal needed William Saliba to slide in and take the ball off Mateta’s toe before the resulting corner was blocked on the line. At the other end, Benítez saved yet again from Jesus and the ball was eventually deflected past the despairing goalkeeper off Lacroix’s toe after more pinball in the box. Palace looked totally deflated but somehow found a way back when Guéhi tapped in after Jefferson Lerma won a header from Adam Wharton’s free-kick. Declan Rice could have won it even later but was once again denied by Benítez, with even more drama reserved for an epic shootout.
