Mikel Arteta: Arsenal showed 'great composure' to get past Crystal Palace

The hosts were dominant for long periods and could have put the tie beyond doubt by half-time, only to waste a succession of clear chances in a goalless first half.

Much of Palace's resistance was due to an outstanding display from their second-choice goalkeeper, Walter Benitez, who repeatedly denied Arsenal from close range.

Arsenal finally broke the deadlock 10 minutes from time. Bukayo Saka delivered a corner that Riccardo Calafiori headed down, with William Saliba challenging in the six-yard box.

Confusion followed as Crystal Palace attempted to clear their lines, and Maxence Lacroix inadvertently turned the ball into his own net.

Just as Arsenal looked set to progress in normal time, Palace struck back with their first shot on target in the fifth minute of stoppage time.

From a corner, Jefferson Lerma nodded the ball down and Marc Guehi reacted quickest, squeezing his effort between the legs of goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga to make it 1-1.

The match was decided by a tense penalty shoot-out that featured 15 successful kicks. Lacroix's miss proved decisive, with Arrizabalaga diving to his right to make the save and send Arsenal through.

"Considering the number of changes we made, the energy and he quality we showed against a well organised team that concedes few chances, we generated a lot," he said.

"The margin should have been much bigger. They weren't, and when that happens teams have the quality to hurt you on a set-piece. That was emotionally tough to accept, but we stayed calm, showed great composure and quality in the shoot-out.

"I'm very happy for Kepa making the last save." 

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