Arsenal secured their place in the Carabao Cup semi-finals after a tense penalty shootout victory over Crystal Palace. The match concluded 1-1 following a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser from Palace’s Marc Guehi. Arsenal will now face Chelsea in the semi-finals, with both legs scheduled for January and February 2026.
In the quarter-final match, Arsenal looked to be heading for a straightforward win when a late own goal by Maxence Lacroix in the 80th minute gave them a 1-0 lead. However, Crystal Palace fought back, equalising in the dying moments of the game. Guehi’s goal in stoppage time sent the match to penalties, where Lacroix missed a crucial spot kick, handing Arsenal an 8-7 victory.
Chelsea, who advanced to the semi-finals after defeating League One side Cardiff City last week, are eager to claim London bragging rights in this high-stakes matchup. Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca expressed confidence in his team’s current form, stating, “We are there, we are in the Premier League fighting, we are in the semi-finals, Carabao Cup, in the Champions League, we are there.” He added, “FA Cup, we’re going to start in January, so I think we are in a very good place at this moment.”
The semi-final tie will consist of two legs: the first at Stamford Bridge on January 14, 2026, and the second at the Emirates Stadium on February 3, 2026. Both matches are set to kick off at 20:00 (UK time) and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Football, with the second leg also available on ITV.
The winner of this semi-final will progress to face either Manchester City or Newcastle United in the final. As anticipation builds for this clash, both teams will be keen to secure their spot in the competition’s concluding stages. The rivalry is set to ignite as Chelsea and Arsenal prepare to battle it out in what promises to be an exciting series of matches.
