Arsenal (8)1-1(7) Crystal Palace, EFL Cup 2025-26 QF Highlights: Gunners Beat Eagles On Penalties - As It Happened

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the EFL Cup 2025-26 last quarter-final match between Arsenal and Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium in North London. Stay tuned with us as we will bring you all the real-time updates, live scores and more.

Arsenal have plenty of fond memories from this very game last year. They had met Crystal Palace in the quarter-final with Gabriel Jesus' hat-trick helping the Gunners prevail by 3-2 at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal are currently flying high at the top of the Premier League. Mikel Arteta’s side has won four of their last five matches, including a clinical 3-0 Champions League win over Club Brugge and a gritty 1-0 victory against Everton. Despite defensive injuries, their momentum remains formidable heading into tonight.

The Eagles are enduring a turbulent spell after their historic FA Cup win last May. They have suffered three defeats in their last four games, including a heavy 4-1 loss to Leeds United and a 3-0 defeat against Manchester City. Fatigue from European Conference League duties has significantly impacted their consistency.

Starting XI: Arrizabalaga (GK), Timber, Saliba, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly, Norgaard, Merino, Eze, Madueke, Martinelli and Jesus

Substitutes: Raya, Odegaard, Gyokeres, Trossard, Nwaneri, Zubimendi, Rice and Salmon

Starting XI: Benitez (GK), Canvot, Richards, Lacroix, Guehi (C), Mitchell, Wharton, Lerma, Pino, Nketiah and Mateta

Substitutes: Henderson, Uche, Clyne, Hughes, Esse, Sosa, Rodney, Devenny and Drakes-Thomas

Manchester City and Newcastle United will be facing each other in the semi-final across 2 legs. Chelsea will take on the winner of Arsenal Vs Crystal Palace match next month.

The last quarter-final match of the Carabao Cup between Arsenal and Crystal Palace will be live streamed on the Fancode app/website.

And off we go for the last quarter-final between Arsenal and Crystal Palace at the EFL Cup 2025-26. The Gunners are decked in their all red outfit.

A bright start from the hosts saw Noni Madueke beat his marker down the right and deliver a cross into the danger zone, though it flew over the heads of his teammates.

Madueke then took the first shot of the night from a central position; however, surrounded by defenders, he could only shoot tamely from the edge of the penalty area, sending the ball straight at Eagles keeper Walter Benitez.

After a sharp one-two with Eberechi Eze, Gabriel Jesus burst into the 18-yard box. However, a pair of Palace defenders quickly swarmed the Brazilian, closing down the space and preventing him from getting a clean strike on goal.

It’s a mystery how Arsenal haven't taken the lead yet. Gabriel Martinelli is relentless on the left wing, leaving Jaydee Canvot completely overwhelmed. In one instance, a dangerous delivery fell perfectly for Riccardo Calafiori, but he could only steer his effort over the crossbar.

Crystal Palace’s defensive unit is holding firm under immense pressure. Even talismanic striker Jean-Philippe Mateta dropped back into his own penalty area to intervene, rising highest to win a crucial header and intercept Noni Madueke’s dangerous delivery before it could reach Gabriel Jesus.

The Gunners are looking very ordinary as a side.

Oliver Glasner will be thrilled with the resilience his side has displayed throughout a grueling opening 45 minutes. Despite facing relentless pressure, the Palace defense has held firm, frustrating a dominant Gunners side. Consequently, it remains 0–0 at the break, as Arsenal have been unable to capitalize on their superior possession and chances.

It must have been a huge half-time talk for both the sides, who were unable to break the deadlock in the first 45 minutes. Anything can happen in this game, let's see who scores first.

This has been the best attacking display from Crystal Palace in the match so far as they seem to be a totally different side since coming on for the 2nd half.

Crystal Palace have improved drastically in the last five minutes, building significant momentum as they settle into the contest. Devenny and Clyne have successfully fortified the right flank, stemming the tide of Arsenal's wide attacks. Sensing the shift in power, a frustrated Mikel Arteta has become increasingly animated in his technical area, demanding more from his players as the scoreline remains stuck at 0–0.

The deadlock is finally broken at the Emirates, as Walter Benítez is beaten by one of his own. A dangerous Bukayo Saka corner created chaos in the six-yard box; while Riccardo Calafiori attempted to forced it home, Maxence Lacroix—under immense pressure from William Saliba—accidentally prodded the ball into his own net.

Incredible late drama at the Emirates! In the fifth minute of stoppage time, Adam Wharton floated a precise free-kick in from the left, which was nodded down by Jefferson Lerma. Marc Guéhi reacted fastest to the loose ball, steering it past Kepa Arrizabalaga to snatch a last-gasp equalizer for Crystal Palace.

In the 102nd minute, Declan Rice had a golden opportunity to win it, but he was denied by yet another spectacular save from the inspired Walter Benítez. That stop proved to be the final act of open play; with the score locked at 1–1 after a dramatic late equalizer, the match now heads straight to a penalty shootout to decide the winner.

ARS 1-0 CRY: Martin Odegaard scores on the first attempt

ARS 1-1 CRY: Jean-Philippe Mateta levels

ARS 2-1 CRY: Declan Rice scores

ARS 2-2 CRY: Justin Devenny levels

ARS 3-2 CRY: Bukayo Saka puts Gunners ahead

ARS 3-3 CRY: Will Hughes scores for Palace

ARS 4-3 CRY: Leandro Trossard on the scoresheet

ARS 4-4 CRY: Calm finish from Borna Sosa 

ARS 5-4 CRY: Mikel Merino buries it

ARS 5-5 CRY: Jefferson Lerma keeps the match alive

ARS 6-5 CRY: Riccardo Calafiori makes it 6 for Gunners

ARS 6-6 CRY: Adam Wharton on the scoresheet

ARS 7-6 CRY: Jurrien Timber holds his nerves

ARS 7-7 CRY: Christantus Uche scores

ARS 8-7 CRY: William Saliba scores

ARS 8-7 CRY: Maxence Lacroix misses the first penalty and Palace are out  

Not the kind of victory they will be hoping for, but Mikel Arteta will be quite happy to see his side get qualified for the EFL Cup semi-finals for the 2nd season in a row.

The Gunners were frustrated by Palace in most of the game but the top-flight leaders were able to hold their nerves until the end to secure the victory.

Maxence Lacroix, who was the scorer of the own goal that gave Arsenal the lead, missed his penalty attempt as the Eagles fell behind by 8-7 in sudden death at the Emirates Stadium.

That's it folks for this live coverage. Hope you enjoyed our company, see you in the semi-finals of the EFL Cup 2025-26 next month.

Newcastle United will take on Manchester City with Chelsea and Arsenal locking horns in a London derby.