Tue Dec 23 19:10:00 UTC 2025: ## Arsenal and Crystal Palace Clash in Carabao Cup Showdown: Jesus Returns for Gunners

London, England – Arsenal and Crystal Palace are battling it out in the Carabao Cup tonight, with the winner advancing to await Chelsea, who are watching to see who they face next. Kick-off was at 8pm GMT.

Both teams are hungry for silverware. Crystal Palace last reached the League Cup semi-finals in 2012, while Arsenal haven’t lifted the trophy since 1993.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has fielded a strong lineup, featuring the long-awaited return of Gabriel Jesus, making his first start since January and his 100th appearance for the club. Mikel Merino captains the Gunners.

Oliver Glasner, the Palace manager, has made only a few adjustments to his team, with Walter Benítez starting in goal in place of Dean Henderson. Eberechi Eze lines up against his former team.

The match is a repeat of last year’s Carabao Cup tie, where Arsenal overcame a first-half deficit to win 3-2. While Crystal Palace have made strides since then, winning their first major trophy, they face a tough challenge, playing their third match in six days amidst European commitments.

For Arsenal, a Carabao Cup victory would provide a welcome boost to their trophy cabinet, which has been relatively bare in recent years. A win in the final in March would make for a great rest of the season.

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