Arsenal Advances to Carabao Cup Semi-Finals After Penalty Shootout Triumph

In a thrilling Carabao Cup quarter-final at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night, Arsenal took the lead late in the game through an own goal by Maxence Lacroix. This unexpected strike seemed to pave the way for the Gunners to secure their spot in the semi-finals. However, in a dramatic turn, Marc Guehi equalized during injury time in the second half, bringing the match to a tense conclusion.

Instead of proceeding to extra time, the match transitioned directly to penalties, a standard procedure in domestic cup competitions. A total of 16 penalties were taken during the shootout, with Arsenal’s Kepa emerging as the standout performer by saving Lacroix’s attempt, igniting celebrations in north London.

Kepa, who joined Arsenal from Chelsea for just £5 million over the summer following a successful loan at Bournemouth, credited his success in the shootout to maintaining composure. He stated, “You have to keep cold and think of the next one. Don’t lose your focus because as soon as you save one, maybe it’s decisive.”

Reflecting on the match, Kepa noted Arsenal’s dominance, boasting 68.7% possession and 25 shots. He acknowledged the necessity for improvement, particularly in converting chances and reducing late-game errors. “We should take some of the opportunities we had in the first half. We played so well. Then they changed and adapted a little bit, and the second half was more 50-50. Even when it was like this, we had big chances. It’s something we have to improve. We conceded in a couple of games in the last minute, and so that is something we have to improve and focus on,” he remarked.

Head coach Mikel Arteta shared Kepa’s sentiments, expressing that the margin of victory should have been broader. “I was really happy. Obviously, we are where we wanted to be in the second semi-final in two years. We played against a team that is very difficult to generate chances against. We generated a lot of them, and I think the margin should have been bigger. And when it’s not after 94, 95 minutes at this level, any set piece can cost you, and it cost us,” Arteta explained.

Arteta praised his team’s penalty execution as “unbelievable,” highlighting that Arsenal converted all eight of their spot kicks. “The penalties were unbelievable. Very different, all of them, but the players showed great composure, personality, and quality to score the goals. We executed really well, and at the end, Kepa did what he had to do to help us to go through,” he added.

Looking ahead, Arsenal will shift their focus back to the Premier League, facing Brighton this weekend. They will round out the year against a strong Aston Villa side, currently sitting third in the league after a recent victory over Manchester United. Following their advancement in the Carabao Cup, Arsenal faces a demanding January schedule, featuring nine matches, starting with a trip to Bournemouth and a home game against Liverpool on January 8th, followed by an FA Cup clash against Portsmouth on January 11th. Additionally, they will meet Chelsea in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final before continuing their busy month with fixtures against Nottingham Forest, Inter, Manchester United, Kairat, and Leeds.