Imagine a single, heart-stopping moment that could have derailed Arsenal's entire cup campaign—now picture a defender stepping up to save the day and earning rave reviews from a club legend. That's exactly what happened when Lee Dixon, the former Arsenal right-back, couldn't stop praising William Saliba after their thrilling Carabao Cup quarter-final triumph over Crystal Palace.
In a match that had everything—dominance, drama, and a nail-biting penalty shootout—Arsenal edged out their London rivals at the Emirates Stadium to book a semi-final spot. For those new to football lingo, the Carabao Cup is one of England's major domestic competitions, similar to the FA Cup but with a league-cup format, and reaching the semis is a huge milestone for any team chasing silverware.
Arsenal, currently sitting pretty at the top of the Premier League table, controlled the first half with their trademark flair, creating chance after chance. But Crystal Palace, the defending FA Cup champions who know a thing or two about cup runs after their surprise triumph last season, held firm. Palace's goalkeeper, Walter Benitez, was a wall between the posts, pulling off several stunning saves that left Arsenal fans frustrated yet admiring his skill.
The second half leveled the playing field, and suddenly Palace started to push forward, dreaming of back-to-back cup successes under their new manager, Oliver Glasner. For beginners, this kind of momentum shift is common in football—teams often come alive after the break, using fresh legs and tactical tweaks to turn the tide.
With just about ten minutes left on the clock, disaster loomed for Arsenal. Jean-Philippe Mateta, Palace's powerful striker, latched onto a clever through ball from Justin Devenny and charged toward goal. It looked like a surefire scoring chance, but Saliba, Arsenal's French center-back sensation, produced a desperate, sliding tackle—think of it as a last-second dive to snatch victory from defeat—that stopped Mateta in his tracks and averted potential heartbreak.
But here's where it gets controversial: was that tackle purely heroic, or did it flirt with fouling? Some Palace fans might argue it was a bit reckless, but Dixon saw it differently. Moments later, Arsenal countered at lightning speed from the corner kick that followed, leading to their opener. In a chaotic goalmouth scramble—where players bundle into the box like a rugby ruck—Palace's Maxence Lacroix accidentally deflected the ball into his own net, giving Arsenal the lead they so desperately needed.
Palace, however, refused to go down without a fight, showcasing the grit that's turned them into genuine cup contenders this season. Deep into stoppage time—those extra minutes added for injuries and delays—Marc Guehi equalized for Palace from a free-kick, earned after Saliba was penalized for a foul. Just like that, the tie was headed to a penalty shootout, the ultimate test of nerve under pressure.
What followed was edge-of-your-seat stuff: fifteen spot-kicks were nailed perfectly in a row, a testament to both teams' composure. But Palace cracked first when their keeper, Kepa Arrizabalaga—no, wait, that's Arsenal's hero in this tale; actually, it was Arsenal's Kepa who stepped up big—saved Lacroix's penalty, sealing Arsenal's progression to the semi-finals. For new fans, penalty shootouts are football's lottery: five players per team take turns from 12 yards out, and the first to miss loses it all.
Reflecting on those frantic final minutes where Saliba's intervention swung the momentum and Arsenal grabbed the lead, Dixon enthused on ITV coverage: 'That's precisely why he's among the elite defenders globally. He was caught a step behind when Mateta broke free, but his explosive speed to recover and execute that tackle was pure class—brilliant doesn't even cover it.' Dixon also tipped his hat to Arsenal's set-piece prowess, adding, 'Arsenal are wizards from dead balls. They've netted prettier ones, but has any been more crucial at this pivotal point in the campaign?'
Over the last couple of years, Saliba has been repeatedly touted as one of the world's top defenders, thanks to his composure, tackling, and ability to read the game like a chess master. Yet, and this is the part most people miss, he's been somewhat eclipsed lately by his Arsenal partner, Gabriel Magalhaes, whose aggressive style has stolen headlines. Is Saliba the silent powerhouse, or does Gabriel deserve the spotlight more? It's a debate that's bound to divide Gooners—Arsenal supporters, that is.
With dreams of ending their Premier League drought since that iconic 2004 Invincibles season, Arsenal now face fierce London foes Chelsea in a two-legged semi-final showdown. Picture the intensity: home and away legs mean twice the drama, and derbies like this often deliver unforgettable moments.
In the other semi-final, Manchester City will clash with Newcastle United, setting up mouthwatering ties. The grand finale? It'll be at the iconic Wembley Stadium on March 16, where legends are made.
After witnessing Arsenal dispatch his old club Crystal Palace, ex-striker Glenn Murray shared his take: 'Kepa only needed one guess in the right direction, and boom—that save was the game-changer, knocking Palace out and propelling Arsenal to the semis. The Emirates is buzzing right now; it's electric. Palace poured their hearts out tonight, but they fell just short—gutted for them, but that's football.'
Arsenal get back to league duties on December 27, hosting Brighton in what could be another tricky encounter. Crystal Palace, meanwhile, welcome Tottenham the next day—a blockbuster London derby to lick their wounds from.
And here's a controversial counterpoint to ponder: while Saliba's tackle was match-saving, did that late Palace goal expose vulnerabilities in Arsenal's defense? Could this cup run fizzle out against Chelsea's attack? What do you think— is Saliba truly one of the best, or is the hype overblown? Drop your thoughts in the comments below; we'd love to hear if you're Team Saliba or if Gabriel's your pick!
Prefer us to the others? Then tell Google!
As a loyal Metro reader, we want to make sure you never miss our stories when searching for your news. Whether it is the latest politics news explained, live football coverage or a showbiz scoop.
Click here (https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=metro.co.uk) and tick Metro.co.uk to ensure you see stories from us first in Google Search.
For more stories like this, check our sport page (https://metro.co.uk/sport/).
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/sportmetro), Twitter (https://twitter.com/Metro_Sport) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/metrosportuk/).
MORE: Paul Merson tells Antoine Semenyo to snub Chelsea and Man Utd for surprise club (https://metro.co.uk/2025/12/23/paul-merson-tells-antoine-semenyo-snub-chelsea-man-utd-surprise-club-25738412/?ico=moretextlinks)
MORE: Man Utd willing to sanction first transfer exit of January window – on one condition (https://metro.co.uk/2025/12/23/man-utd-willing-sanction-first-transfer-exit-january-window-one-condition-25737551/?ico=moretextlinks)
MORE: Chelsea ‘making moves behind the scenes’ to sign midfielder on Arsenal’s radar (https://metro.co.uk/2025/12/23/chelsea-making-moves-behind-scenes-sign-midfielder-arsenals-radar-25735178/?ico=moretextlinks)
Football Newsletter – In The Mixer
Punchy analysis, transfer talk and more from Metro's football experts, sent straight to your inbox every week.
