Phew!!! We made it!!! Boy, did they make hard work of that. Arsenal edged past Crystal Palace to sneak into the Semi Finals of the League Cup and although they were well worth their place in the last 4 based on overall play, chances created and basically every metric you can think of, but they were nearly made to play for their woeful finishing once again.
Arsenal had one of their most dominant halves of the season so far in the first period, pinning Palace back into their half for nearly the entirety of the game and despite forcing Palace keeper Walter Benitez into a couple of smart saves, the game somehow remained goalless at the break.
The second half, Crystal Palace were much improved and had a decent spell of possession without really threatening the Arsenal goal, but Arsenal soon wrestled back control of the tie and deservedly took the lead in rather fortuitous circumstances. Palace failed to clear another dangerous Arsenal corner from substitute Bukayo Saka and the pressure finally told as Maxence Lacroix put through his own net (the third consecutive own goal at The Emirates!) under pressure from William Saliba to much relief to all those in red and white inside the stadium.
Arsenal only had 10 minutes to see out, but after William Saliba gave away a cheap free kick deep into stoppage time, Marc Guehi was there to turn home a Jefferson Lerma nod down to take the tie to penalties.
Arsenal won both of the coin tosses and therefore took the first penalty in front of their own fans.
To be fair, the standard of the penalties from both sides was absolutely superb and after 14 successful penalties, William Saliba turned home to give Arsenal the lead for the eighth time in the shoot out before Lacroix’s night got even worse. The Frenchman, who had earlier given Arsenal the lead after putting through his own net, saw he his penalty brilliantly saved by Arrizabalaga to send Arsenal through to the semi finals and the Arsenal fans inside The Emirates absolutely delirious. It wasn’t pretty, but Arsenal now go into Christmas top of the Premier League, Champions League and threw to the Semi Finals of the League Cup. Not bad for a start, now the hard work really begins!
Kepa Arrizabalaga – 7
Didn’t have to do a great lot during normal time, although he swept up to good affect on the odd occasion. No chance with the Palace goal and his distribution was decent enough, even if there was a noticeable drop off from David Raya. Wasn’t looking like his day as he got nowhere near any of Palaces’ first 7 penalties but made himself the Arsenal hero with the eighth, going very early to save brilliantly from Lacroix. Gets an extra point for the save.
Jurrien Timber – 7
Looked tired to me, especially early on. Improved as the game wore on and got into some good attacking positions (including centre forward at one stage!) and displayed that unbelievable ability to wrestle the ball back almost through his opponent once or twice, but missed a great chance at the end of the first half to give Arsenal the lead. Confidently dispatched his spot kick in the shootout, so gets an extra point for that, in what was one of his quieter games in an Arsenal shirt this season.
William Saliba – 8
Was looking like the William Saliba from earlier in the season for much of this contest as he did well up against JP Mateta and gave the big striker almost nothing to work with, especially in the first half, which allowed us to dominate the game. A little shakier in the second as Palace came back into the game, but I still thought he was really good and also got into some great attacking/overlapping positions at times, as he tried to push Arsenal forward. Helped force home the equaliser before giving away the cheapest of cheap free kicks which lead to the needless Palace equaliser. Up to that point I would have made him my Player of the Match however, it was such a costly error that I had to drop his mark by 1 as a result. Gained the point back with a brilliant penalty to ultimately win the tie for Arsenal!
Riccardo Calafiori – 8
Another player who was superb, aside from one costly moment. Was chosen to partner Saliba at William Saliba in what must only been the third or fourth start in this position, but was largely excellent as the two of them dovetailed nicely and really helped Arsenal impose themselves on the game. Strong in the air, quick across the ground and tidy in possession. Outjumped for the first ball on the Palace equaliser, but then stuck away his penalty like it was nothing. Looked good at centre back.
Myles Lewis-Skelly – 6
Mixed bag for Lewis-Skelly as he was rarely troubled defensively yet had very little impact on the Arsenal attack, despite Arsenal dominating the ball for large periods. Those driving runs and ability to hold off challenges don’t see as bullet proof as they were last season and I now worry when he takes the ball under pressure. Not a bad performance though and he covered well for Calafiori on occasions.
Christian Norgaard – 8
Martin Zubimendi he is not. I don’t feel comfortable with him taking the ball with three players around him, as Zubimendi does so well, and his passing and movement is nowhere near the same level as the Spaniard. That said, I think what Norgaard does best, he actually does really, really well. Absolutely beast in the air. Won everything in the middle of the park and kept things ticking over nicely. Actually has a long throw as well and we did look dangerous when he launched the ball into the box, so that’s something we can maybe use later in the season as we look to go deeper in the cup competitions. Deserves more minutes.
Mikel Merino – 7
Some nice touches here and there, but not his most influential game. Another who was strong in the air and he was dangerous from set plays, as always, and linked up quite well with Norgaard in the first half to help us get up the pitch. Probably the calmest penalty of the lot as he just stroked the ball home after Benitez had committed himself. Gets an extra point for that!
Eberechi Eze – 7
Some lovely first time passes and touches in the first half, including a lovely ball into Madueke that should have led to a goal Faded in the second half and was rightly subbed off for Martin Odegaard. Continues to be a moments player, this just wasn’t his moment tonight.
Noni Madueke – 7
Very similar to Eze above. Good in the first half, came in off the right to good affect and on another day he probably helps himself to a couple of goals or at least an assist. Should have done better with the early chance fashioned by Eze, but was denied by a brilliant save from Benitez for his other big chance. Faded as with Eze and suffered the same fate as he was withdrawn for Bukayo Saka as part of the same round of changes.
Gabriel Jesus – 7
He’s so infuriating isn’t he?! His link up play is absolutely sensational, especially his one touch stuff. So good at bringing players into the game, I don’t think we have another player who’s anywhere near at linking the play (maybe Eze?). That said, his finishing remains his biggest downfall. The first half headed chance was more good save, than bad miss. I think Jesus does everything right there. The other two or three chances of his that come to mind, I don’t think I can stay the same for. Has to take one of those chances, even on a bad day, yet he was subbed late on without a goal to his name. He has a part to play this season, I’m sure of that, needs to do something about his finishing though.
Gabriel Martinelli– 8 PLAYER OF THE MATCH.
Majestic in the first half. Absolutely tore Jaydee Canvot to shreds. It seemed like bullying after a while, such was the ease at which Martinelli ran past him. Left foot, right food, inside, outside, Martinelli tied Cavot in knots and even had quality on his crosses at the end of this dribbling. A regular criticism of the Brazilian is that he plays with his head down too much, but that could not be said of this performance as he picked out teammates time and again with accurate crosses and he can feel very angry with his colleagues for ending the game without an assist to his name, as they were so wasteful on the night. Got a knock early in the first half which seemed to lead to his second half withdrawal as he was unfortunately not able to run it off.
Subs:
Leandro Trossard – 7
I don’t remember Trossard having too much impact on the game as a whole yet he played a key role in one brilliantly move where he brought the ball out of defence under pressure and then knitted the move together further up the pitch to play in Merino who played in Jesus for a good chance. Took his penalty with consummate ease and he gets an extra point for that.
Bukayo Saka – 7
Another who didn’t impact the game as much as you would have hoped, yet it was his wicked corner that led to the opener and he tucked away his penalty brilliantly, so not a bad night’s work!!
Martin Odegaard – 7
Was always trying to make something happen and had a few nice touches here and there, without really opening up that Palace defence. Showed his Captaincy credentials by stepping up and dispatching the first penalty to get Arsenal underway. Great leadership.
Declan Rice – 7
Came on late to help shore things up and pressed well. His corners were again of a ridiculously high quality as they caused absolute mayhem in the Palace box that could easily have lead to a goal. Nearly nicked the win with the last kick of the game but was denised by the inspired Benitez. Dispatched his penalty superbly in what you would called ‘Gyokeres’ fashion, as he stepped up for Arsenal in more ways than one.