The EFL Cup (Carabao Cup) quarter-finals conclude with an intense London derby as Arsenal host Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners are flying high at the top of the Premier League table following a recent 1-0 win over Everton, while the Eagles are looking to bounce back from a heavy defeat to Leeds United. With a semi-final spot against Chelsea on the line, both managers face a selection headache amidst a congested winter schedule.
Match Details
- Date: Tuesday, December 23, 2025
- Kick-off Time: 8:00 PM GMT
- Venue: Emirates Stadium, London
Team News (Injuries & Suspensions)
Arsenal: Mikel Arteta is dealing with several defensive absences. Ben White (hamstring) and Cristhian Mosquera (ankle) are both ruled out until January. In attack, Kai Havertz remains sidelined with a long-term issue, while summer signing Martin Zubimendi is a doubt after undergoing “load management” recently. Expect rotations, potentially handing a start to 19-year-old Joshua Nichols and goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Crystal Palace: Oliver Glasner’s squad is stretched thin by European commitments. Daniel Munoz is out following knee surgery, and Daichi Kamada remains sidelined with a hamstring injury. Key striker Jean-Philippe Mateta is a major doubt due to knee swelling, while Maxence Lacroix may be rested after playing heavy minutes this season. Eddie Nketiah is available to face his former club but may start on the bench.
Predicted Lineups
Arsenal (4-3-3): Kepa; Nichols, Saliba, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly; Merino, Norgaard, Eze; Madueke, Jesus, Martinelli.
Crystal Palace (3-4-2-1): Benitez; Richards, Guehi, Canvot; Clyne, Lerma, Wharton, Sosa; Pino, Devenny; Uche.
How to Watch
- TV Channels: The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League, and ITV1 in the UK.
- Live Stream: Fans can stream the game via Sky Go, NOW TV, or the ITVX app.
- International: Check local listings for beIN Sports (Middle East/Africa) and DAZN (selected regions).
Head-to-Head (H2H)
Arsenal has dominated this fixture recently, remaining unbeaten in their last eight meetings against Palace.
| Date | Competition | Result |
| Oct 26, 2025 | Premier League | Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace |
| Apr 23, 2025 | Premier League | Arsenal 2-2 Crystal Palace |
| Dec 21, 2024 | Premier League | Crystal Palace 1-5 Arsenal |
| Dec 18, 2024 | League Cup | Arsenal 3-2 Crystal Palace |
| Jan 20, 2024 | Premier League | Arsenal 5-0 Crystal Palace |
Conclusion & Prediction
While Crystal Palace have shown they can be “giant killers” in cup competitions, their current fatigue and injury list make this a tall order. Arsenal’s superior squad depth and incredible home form—having won 11 of their 12 matches at the Emirates this season—should see them through to the semi-finals.
Logical Score Prediction: Arsenal 2-0 Crystal Palace
Do you think the Eagles can pull off an upset at the Emirates, or will the Gunners march on to Wembley? Let us know your predictions in the comments!
