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Key events
61 min: Lerma sends in a long throw for Palace … and it has Arrizabalaga back-pedalling; he eventually collects on his line, but that was another nervy moment for Arsenal.
59 min: Off comes Martinelli, perhaps still bothered by the blow to his right knee at the end of the first half? Trossard is on.
58 min: Wharton plays a one-two and winds up for a strike from outside the area … he drags it wide of the post with his right foot. Palace are starting to threaten.
57 min: And there is the sight of Trossard on the touchline, ready to emerge. Madueke crosses from the right and finds Eze … but his shot is blocked by Clyne, who has brought Palace some much-needed calm on their right.
54 min: Arsenal are still searching for some rhythm in this half; we can’t be far off Arteta calling for reinforcements.
53 min: Pino delivers for Palace … into the sidenetting. What a waste.
52 min: Lerma plays the ball into the left channel for Mateta to chase on to … the big centre forward battles to win a corner.
50 min: Martinelli isn’t getting the same amount of space as Palace keep the ball in Arsenal’s half, Guéhi advancing forward for a miscued shot.
48 min: The game turns into header and volleys in midfield before Lewis-Skelly is trapped at left-back. Palace win the ball, Clyne crosses and a header travels wide. Palace already look better after Glasner’s half-time changes.
47 min: Eze battle away in midfield but goes down when he meets Wharton.
46 min: Martinelli, who limped off before the break, is still on and ready to take on Clyne.
Off goes Canvot after that difficult first 45, with Palace refreshing their right wing. Nathaniel Clyne and Justin Devenny are on, with Nketiah making way, too.
Arsenal have had 12 shots to Crystal Palace’s two, four on target to Palace’s none. Benítez was excellent between the sticks but the hosts have some big names they can call upon from the bench: Saka, Trossard and Rice are just a few of them.
HALF-TIME: Arsenal 0-0 Crystal Palace
Somehow, we’re still goalless. Arsenal have been dominant, with Gabriel Martinelli running things from that left wing; Jaydee Canvot, 19 years young, has had a tough time of it for Palace.
45+3 min: Martinelli’s right knee is getting looked at; he hobbles off the pitch. Let’s see if he returns for the second half.
45+2 min: We have two minutes of added time … Martinelli has the ball on the wing but Canvot stops him from cutting in this time. The left winger is on the floor and looking in some pain.
45 min: Arsenal launch an electric counter … but they can’t get that final bit right. This time it’s a shot by Lewis-Skelly that can’t break the deadlock.
44 min: Palace have really been hanging in there over the last 10 minutes.
42 min: Martinelli, feet working overtime, finds Timber in the area for a volley, but it lacks a sweet ping off the middle. Arsenal’s No 11, not long after, leaves Canvot on the floor before playing another threatening ball into the mixer. This is brutal from Martinelli.
40 min: Martinelli, once again, whips in another delicious cross … the move ends with a Madueke shot, but Benítez pushes the ball away for another Arsenal corner. This half has been about these three players.
39 min: Lewis-Skelly shows plenty of strength to keep the ball on the left and eventually win a free-kick.
37 min: Time for another dead-ball play, with Eze standing over a free-kick from deep. It’s played short before Madueke crosses from the right … Jesus heads it wide. Scratch that, it actually came off Mateta but Palace get the goalkick, much to the dismay of the Arsenal forward.
36 min: The long throws and corners keep on coming for Arsenal, but Palace remain pretty solid.
34 min: Merino threads a ball through to Eze in the area – he taps it to Jesus but the defenders are quick to the danger, stopping the striker from unleashing a strike.
33 min: Lewis-Skelley wins the ball but loses it quickly in midfield; there’s space for Palace to exploit on their right, with Nketiah whipping in a low, dangerous ball. Arsenal escape.
32 min: Palace have a free-kick from deep … Pino’s ping into the area is far away from any of his teammates.
30 min: Mikel Arteta doesn’t need to panic here, even as his side wait for a breakthrough; he’s got so many options on the bench to test Palace’s endurance in the second half.
28 min: Calafiori, after some pinball in the area, smashes the ball high.
27 min: Martinelli goes on the outside of Canvot this time, holds the ball up to the back post … but there’s no red shirt to convert. Corner to Arsenal …
25 min: Martinelli causes Canvot further bother, cutting in from the left to whip in a delicious cross … a Jesus header is set to find the bottom corner … but Benítez makes another top save. Arsenal are closing in.
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.
