Mikel Arteta has praised the performance of Arsenal ’s fringe players following their penalty shootout victory over Crystal Palace. Kepa Arrizabalaga was the hero for the Gunners, saving from Maxence Lacroix to seal Arsenal’s place in the Carabao Cup semi-finals.

Arsenal's League Cup quarterfinal with Crystal Palace went the distance - as so many of their recent matches have done

Mikel Arteta will be pleased that his side managed to get through penalties to reach the semi-finals, but the way that his players managed the tie will have disappointed the Arsenal manager. The Gunners were again far from their best and missed a host of chances before Maxence Lacroix's late own goal.

Arsenal raced down the other end with a free-flowing counter-attack only for Martinez to tip Jesus' shot over. Riccardo Calafiori's header from Saka's ensuing corner was blocked, and so was Jurrien Timber's effort, but a toe-poke from Lacroix ended up in the Palace net.

Kai Havertz has returned to first-team training for the first time since suffering a knee injury in August. The German has not played since the opening day of the Premier League season, and went under the knife shortly afterwards, but the 26-year-old is now closing in on a return to action.

Aston Villa are heading into the Christmas period like a runaway sleigh with 10 successive victories in all competitions and with the Premier League's top spot in their sights.

All the latest from Arsenal, including Rio Ferdinand pushing back on comments from Bukayo Saka and a new verdict for Viktor Gyokeres