GUNN AND DONE IT AGAIN

Jammy Gunners go into the last four after an incredible 8-7 penalty shootout win to break poor Palace hearts

- BY NEIL MCLEMAN

ARSENAL were given two more Christmas gifts by Maxence Lacroix last night to reach the Carabao Cup semifinals after an epic penalty shootout with Crystal Palace.

First the French defender scored another own goal at the Emirates following the two scored by Wolves in the Premier League here - to give the Gunners the 80th-minute lead before Marc Guehi scored an injury-time equaliser.

Then both sides scored the first 15 penalties in the shootout before Kepa Arrizabalaga saved the 16th kick by Lacroix.

The Spanish keeper made better EFL penalty headlines after refusing to come off before a shootout at the 2019 final.

Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard and Mikel Merino, Riccardo Calafiori all scored spot kick for the Gunners.

Jean-Philippe Mateta, Justin Devenny, Will Hughes, Borna Sosa and Jefferson Lerma, Adam Wharton, Christantus Uche netted for Palace before Lacroix's painful miss. As the nights are getting shorter after the Winter Solstice, so are the odds on Arsenal winning a first trophy since 2020.