1 day ago
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24 min: The men on the wings, Madueke and Martinelli, are posing the biggest threat at the moment.
22 min: Very nearly an opener as Martinelli lofts a ball into the area … Madueke has his shirt pulled but also gets on the end of it … his poke is saved well by Benítez from close range.
21 min: Eze wallops a diagonal ball … out of Madueke’s reach. The game’s still waiting for a bit of quality.
18 min: Time for a long throw, Nørgaard sending it in from the right for Arsenal. It’s a threatening ball … but no real damage from it.
16 min: Martinelli looks ready to cause some bother tonight. Canvot, out on the right for Palace, is in for a shift.
14 min: Eze’s corner is flicked on at the front post by Nørgaard, very nearly finding Saliba for the decisive touch. A first glimpse of some set-piece havoc today.
13 min: Calafiori drives forward and finds Martinelli, on the touchline and looking sharp – he relishes the one-on-one and whips in a cross. Corner to the hosts.
11 min: Guéhi is in the way as Saliba plays the ball into the Palace area; Glasner’s men continue to hold firm.
10 min: Lewis-Skelly tidies up at the back for Arsenal as Mateta battles up top by himself.
9 min: Arsenal, as expected, are in control of the ball but are forced all the way back to Arrizabalaga as Palace hold their shape.
7 min: Calafiori, playing at centre-back, dinks a tidy ball over the top, searching for Martinelli … but it’s a touch heavy. Palace then launch a rapid counter, with Mitchell advancing down the left. He reaches the edge of the area … before smashing high and wide.
5 min: Eze hassles away on the Arsenal left, but Eddie Nketiah, once of this parish, keeps up with him.
3 min: Madueke intercepts a Palace throw on the Arsenal right, plays to Martinelli, his pass cuts straight through the Palace defence. The onrushing Madueke receives … and really should do better. He shoots straight at Benítez.
2 min: Madueke shows off some quick feet to thump a cross in from the right before Arsenal wheel it around in defence.
Peeeeep!
Arsenal kick things off, decked in their classic red.
Mikel Merino and Marc Guéhi lead their players out – we’ll be up and running shortly.
Arsenal, even with eight changes to their XI, have some bench. We could see a game that matches the rhythm of the quarter-final last year, with Palace beginning well before Arteta’s substitutions changed the tune.
Crystal Palace haven’t reached the semi-finals of the League Cup since 2012; Tom Heaton was Cardiff’s hero on penalties as they progressed to the final against Liverpool.
Arsenal have had more joy but haven’t won this trophy since … 1993. Paul Merson and Steve Morrow scored the goals in a 2-1 victory against Sheffield Wednesday.
Ed Aarons reflected on Palace’s heavy workload in his preview.
Arsenal look radically different from the side that beat Everton, while Oliver Glasner makes just three changes to his Palace team. Gabriel Jesus makes his first start since January and it’s his 100th appearance for the Gunners, too. Mikel Merino is Arsenal’s captain as Eberechi Eze lines up against his old pals.
Dean Henderson is the big Palace name left on the bench, with Argentina’s Walter Benítez taking the gloves.
The teams
Arsenal: Arrizabalaga, Timber, Saliba, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly, Nørgaard, Merino, Eze, Martinelli, Madueke, Jesus
Subs: Raya, Salmon, Zubimendi, Rice, Ødegaard, Nwaneri, Trossard, Saka, Gyökeres
Crystal Palace: Benítez, Canvot, Richards, Lacroix, Guéhi, Mitchell, Wharton, Lerma, Pino, Nketiah, Mateta
Subs: Henderson, Uche, Clyne, Hughes, Esse, Sosa, Rodney, Devenny, Drakes-Thomas
Preamble
Hello, hello, hello: it’s time for some festive Carabao content and I can’t help but think of Marty McFly: hey, hey, I’ve seen this one, I’ve seen this one – this is a classic!
Yep, Arsenal hosted Palace a year ago in this very tournament, in the very same round. From 1-0 down at half-time, Arsenal roared back with a 3-2 victory, courtesy of a Gabriel Jesus hat-trick. A lot has happened since: Palace have won their first major trophy, Jesus has just returned from an ACL injury and Eberechi Eze has joined the other side.
While Palace have grown in stature, their task this evening remains lofty. This’ll be their third match in six days – European commitments taking their toll – against a side they’ve lost seven out of their last eight. But, then again, Oliver Glasner likes making history.
For Arsenal supporters, the Carabao may feel a touch small-fry when you’re top of the table and dominating in the Champions League. But, for all of their progress, five years have passed since winning their only proper trophy under Mikel Arteta. A cup final win in March would be the perfect way to begin the season run-in. Kick-off’s at 8pm GMT.
