The Carabao Cup quarter-finals saw Arsenal triumph over Crystal Palace with a thrilling 3-2 victory, propelled by the stunning performance of Gabriel Jesus, who scored a magnificent hat-trick to turn the tide of the match. The game kicked off with Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta stunning the home side by scoring within just four minutes, getting on the end of a long ball and expertly finishing to give Palace the early lead.
Despite initial struggles, Arsenal stayed resolute. Mikel Arteta’s men managed to hold 71% possession during the first half but failed to capitalize on their chances, trailing 1-0 at half-time. Arsenal attempted to respond with several close efforts, including shots from Raheem Sterling and Leandro Trossard, but Dean Henderson was superb between the Palace posts, denying goal-scoring opportunities with several fine saves.
When the second half commenced, manager Arteta made key changes, introducing captain Martin Odegaard and defender William Saliba. These substitutions had immediate effects. Just eight minutes after the restart, Odegaard threaded a beautiful pass through to Jesus, who coolly lobbed the ball over Henderson to level the score at 1-1. The Emirates Stadium erupted as Jesus illustrated his clinical finishing ability, having ended his 10-month goal drought earlier in the match.
Arsenal’s confidence surged as they began to dominate the game. With the crowd roaring behind them, Jesus struck again, this time hammering the ball past Henderson to make it 2-1. It was Odegaard’s incisive play and vision which set up both of Jesus’s follow-up goals. Bukayo Saka, who also came on as sub, played his part by assisting Jesus's second goal before the Brazilian completed his hat-trick, running onto another exquisite through ball from Odegaard.
The match, seemingly sealed at 3-1, took another twist when former Gunner Eddie Nketiah scored for Palace just five minutes from time, heading home from close range after connecting perfectly with Nathaniel Clyne’s cross. This late goal injected some tension back onto the pitch, as Arsenal's defenders faced some nervous moments against Palace's relentless pressure.
Despite the late scare, Arsenal managed to hold onto their lead, securing their place among the last four teams competing for the Carabao Cup. The match ended with the Gunners breathing a sigh of relief as goalkeeper David Raya punched away one final Palace corner during stoppage time, ensuring they wouldn’t face any more drama.
With this victory, Arsenal looks forward to the semi-finals, where they will be hoping to carry this momentum forward. Arteta praised his side’s resilience, emphasizing how the substitutes’ contributions were pivotal to turning the match around and reinforcing Arsenal's competitive spirit this season.
The draw for the semi-finals is set to take place following the conclusion of Tottenham Hotspur vs. Manchester United match, leaving wait-and-see anticipation for Arsenal's next challenge. This tough encounter against Crystal Palace also sets the stage for another match between these two sides coming up this Saturday at Selhurst Park, marking the final game for Arsenal before the Christmas break.
