Maxence Lacroix had a night to forget, as the Crystal Palace defender scored an own goal and missed the only penalty kick in an otherwise flawless eight-round shootout in the League Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday.
The own goal didn’t come until the 80th minute, when the ball pinged around the six-yard box and came off Lacroix in the most unfortunate of circumstances. Crystal Palace deserved their stoppage-time equalizer, turned home from a set piece by Marc Guehi. The first seven rounds of the shootout were nothing short of a marksman exhibition, as player after player either rifled it into the top corner or coolly rolled it one way after send the goalkeeper the other.
Until Lacroix came up in the 8th round. It was well hit and put in a decent spot to Kepa Arrizabalaga’s right, but he guessed right and was all over it.
Arsenal will face Chelsea in the semifinals on either Jan. 13 or 14, beginning at Stamford Bridge for the first leg and back at Emirates Stadium for leg no. 2. Newcastle and Manchester City will face off in the other semifinal, which will wrap up on Feb. 3 and 4.
Arsenal vs Crystal Palace live updates - by Andy Edwards
Arsenal vs Crystal Palace final score: 1-1 (7-6 PKs)
Goalscorers: Maxence Lacroix (80' - OG), Marc Guehi (95')
Arsenal vs Crystal Palace penalty shootout
Arsenal 7-6 Crystal Palace
Arsenal
Made: Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, Mikel Merino, Riccardo Calafiori, Jurrien Timber, William Saliba
Missed:
Crystal Palace
Made: Jean-Philippe Mateta, Justin Devenny, Will Hughes, Borna Sosa, Jefferson Lerma, Adam Wharton, Christantus Uche
Missed: Maxence Lacroix
IT’S OVER! Arrizabalaga denies Lacroix to send Arsenal through
Kepa Arrizabalaga is the hero for Arsenal and the Gunners are heading to the Carabao Cup semifinals 💪 pic.twitter.com/NRGiOskOVl
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) December 23, 2025
GOAL! Arsenal 1-1 Crystal Palace: Guehi levels it up late in stoppage time (90'+5)
Marc Guéhi's stuns Arsenal with a late equalizer to send the Carabao Cup quarterfinal to penalties 🦅 pic.twitter.com/mYabEfg9kk
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) December 23, 2025
OWN GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace: Chaos inside the six-yard box (80')
Another Arsenal set piece, another goal 🔴
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) December 23, 2025
Maxence Lacroix turns it into his own net ⚽ pic.twitter.com/9b0txhEwm5
Arsenal starting lineup
Arrizabalaga - Timber, Saliba, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly - Norgaard, Merino, Eze - Madueke, Martinelli, Jesus
Crystal Palace starting lineup
Benitez - Richards, Guehi, Lacroix - Canvot, Wharton, Lerma, Mitchell - Pino, Nketiah, Mateta
How to watch Arsenal vs Crystal Palace live, League Cup stream link, start time
Kick off time: 3pm ET Tuesday
Venue: Emirates Stadium — North London
TV Channel/Streaming: Paramount+.
The Gunners are seeking their second full tournament trophy under Mikel Arteta and first since the 2019-20 FA Cup. Arsenal won the Community Shield in 2020 and 2023, participating in the latter due to their status as Premier League runners-up from the 2022-23 season.
Palace’s silverware cabinet has twice been updated in the past year, first when they surprised Manchester City in the FA Cup Final and again when they outlasted Liverpool after penalties in the Community Shield.
Of course the match-winner in that FA Cup was Eberechi Eze, who’s since switched sides and should be front-and-center for this one.
Arsenal team news, focus
OUT: Max Dowman (ankle), Ben White (hamstring) Cristhian Mosquera (ankle - MORE), Kai Havertz (knee - MORE) | QUESTIONABLE: Gabriel Magalhaes (thigh - MORE)
Crystal Palace team news, focus
OUT: Chadi Riad (knee), Ismaila Sarr (international duty - AFCON), Daichi Kamada (hamstring), Daniel Munoz (knee), Caleb Kporha (back), Cheick Doucoure (knee), Rio Cardines (adductor)
Arsenal vs Crystal Palace prediction
Both sides had weekends to forget in terms of performance, but Arsenal did manage a win to stay atop the Premier League whereas Palace were clobbered 4-1 by in-form Leeds. Ismaila Sarr’s absence will loom large here as service to Jean-Philippe Mateta is less regular. Arsenal should skate here and really should snap out of their funk. It’s a great opportunity, and one we figure they’ll seize with vigor. Arsenal 2-0 Crystal Palace.
