Arsenal booked their place in the EFL Cup semi-finals after edging past a resilient Crystal Palace side in a sudden-death penalty shootout, extending their unbeaten head-to-head run against the Eagles to nine matches, Softfootball reports.
The Gunners came into the quarter-final in confident mood after seeing off Brighton 2-0 in the previous round , and that assurance showed early on. Despite the competition arguably ranking lower on Mikel Arteta's list of priorities, Arsenal began with real intent. Palace goalkeeper Walter Benitez was quickly called into action, first denying Noni Madueke before producing an outstanding save to claw away Gabriel Jesus' header that looked destined for the bottom corner.
Arsenal continued to press as the first half wore on, with Benitez again frustrating Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli causing constant problems down the left. The Brazilian teed up Jurrien Timber with a teasing cross, but the defender could only head over, as Oliver Glasner's Palace somehow reached half-time still on level terms.
