GABRIEL JESUS had waited 345 days for this and it was fitting that it would come just before Christmas.
But on a frustrating and underwhelming night for Arsenal, here was a reminder that the return of Jesus – this was his first start in 11 months – is not a silver bullet for Arsenal’s frustrations up front.
They needed a penalty shoot-out to find a way past Palace. After scoring all eight of their spot-kicks, the Eagles’ Maxence Lacroix was the first player to miss with Kepa Arrizabalaga saving.
And incredibly, they only took the lead when – for the second time in succession at the Emirates – they scored thanks to an own-goal by the unfortunate Lacroix who will want to forget this night.
After Wolves put two in their own net here 10 days earlier, this time, it was the turn of Lacroix who turned past heroic Palace keeper Walter Benitez.
Yet in the fifth minute of stoppage time, Marc Guehi struck a leveller to send the game into penalties.
If there was one player who did not deserve to be on the losing side it was Benitez who delivered a brilliant performance to keep his team in the tie.
Now, Arsenal will face Chelsea in the semi-finals and they will have to do a lot better than this.
By then, maybe Jesus will have got the goal he is desperately hoping for although there was no miracle before Christmas.
Jesus, who suffered a serious ACL injury against Manchester United in the FA Cup in January, was making his 100th appearance for the club.
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Viktor Gyokeres has not exactly taken Arsenal by storm following his £63.5million move from Sporting Lisbon and has looked even worse since returning from a hamstring injury.
In the eyes of Arsenal fans, Jesus probably got better each week he was on the sidelines as this often happens with injured players.
He is obviously a hugely-important part of Mikel Arteta’s plans but he is still not the free-scoring No9 they really need, although it is hoped that Gyokeres will still come good. Although the jury is out on that one.
Until his injury, Jesus had only scored seven times and there was a spell when he managed just one goal in 20 matches – and that was against Preston in the Carabao Cup
Jesus, who netted a hat-trick against Palace in the same stage of the competition last season, had just one chance in the first half but was denied by a brilliant save from Benitez who was making only his fifth appearance of the season.
In the second half, with Arteta having made some changes in a bid to put some life into his team, Jesus headed a cross from Martin Odegaard wide, fired over the bar and then forced a decent save from Benitez.
Arsenal player ratings vs Crystal Palace
ARSENAL came through their Carabao Cup semi-final with Crystal Palace, but only after penalties.
The match ended 1-1.
So who starred and who flopped for the Gunners?
Kepa Arrizabalaga -7
The hero in the penalty the shootout – but not in the most emphatic of ways.
Did not get near seven of Palace’s penalties, before keeping out Lacroix to send Arsenal through to the semi finals.
Jurrien Timber -6
A surprise starter given Arsenal’s injury issues in defence. Struggled early on and was guilty of a few sloppy errors.
Headed over the bar when presented with a good chance towards the end of the first half.
William Saliba – 7
Had Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta in his pocket for most of the night.
Barely put a foot wrong – but then an error towards the end led to him giving away the free-kick that Palace scored from.
Riccardo Calafiori -7
Shifted from left-back to the heart of defence in the absence of Piero Hincapie. Slotted in well and looked comfortable in possession.
Wasted a good chance in the first half, though, when he fired over from a corner.
Myles Lewis-Skelly -6
Slipped down the pecking order this season, but has been a regular in the Carabao Cup.
Got forward whenever he could with a few marauding runs. Had an easy night against former Arsenal man Eddie Nketiah
Mikel Merino – 6
Captain for the night as Arteta made eight changes. Typically solid out of possession, but lacked a real threat on the ball.
Arsenal’s best attacking moments came from out wide.
Christian Norgaard – 8
Handed just his fifth start since moving to Arsenal in the summer.
Put in one of his best performances at the base of midfield. Snapped into tackles, and was neat and tidy on the ball.
Eberechi Eze – 6
Scored against his old club back in October, but was quiet this time out. Other than his brilliant performance against
Tottenham in the North London derby, he is yet to really get going for Arsenal.
Noni Madueke – 5
Somehow failed to find the net in the first half, despite having a string of good chances.
Kept plugging away, but his end product was lacking.
Gabriel Jesus – 7
Back in the starting XI for the first time in 345 days. Linked the play well and combined nicely with Martinelli.
Denied a goal thanks to two stunning saves by Walter Benitez in either half. A promising performance.
Gabriel Martinelli – 8
An electric display, especially in the first half – when he created five chances.
Terrorised Jaydee Canvot so much so that the Palace wing-back was hooked at half time.
Martinelli was taken off just before the hour mark after he failed to shake off a heavy tackle towards the end of the first half.
Check out the full ratings here and see how the subs performed.
Unsurprisingly, Palace look knackered. This was their seventh game in December and also the third of eight games they face in the space of 23 days.
It was impressive that they actually improved after the break as they struggled in the first half.
Noni Madueke, who has suffered a stop-start time since arriving from Chelsea, made only his eighth start and could have scored a first-half hat-trick but was denied by Benitez on each occasion.
All three of those chances were created by Gabriel Martinelli who had makeshift right wing-back Jaydee Canvot on toast.
Unsurprisingly, Palace boss Oliver Glasner spared Canvot any more misery and replaced him at the break for Nathaniel Clyne.
Former Arsenal forward Eddie Nketiah – who was hardly helping his beleaguered team-mate on the right – was also replaced by Justin Devenny.
Richards suffers heavy injury
Palace looked a lot better in the second half and Adam Wharton gave the home team a scare with a shot which fizzed wide past Kepa.
With Arteta having run out of ideas midway inside the second half, Arteta introduced Bukayo Saka and Odegaard, having brought on Leandro Trossard a few minutes earlier.
Jesus then beat Chris Richards to a header and even though the challenge was innocuous, the Palace defender pulled up with an injury and left the pitch on a stretcher.
Finally, Arsenal got the opener, from a set-piece of course. Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber failed to turn in Saka’s corner and then Lacroix ended up sticking the ball into his own net while under pressure from William Saliba.
And then in the fifth minute of injury time, Palace levelled. Guehi fired home from close range after Jefferson Lerma got his head to Wharton’s free-kick.
In the 12th minute of injury time, Benitez saved Palace yet again with a stop to deny Declan Rice.
But in the shoot-out, Benitez was finally beaten – all eight times.
