Arsenal vs Crystal Palace - LIVE!

Arsenal must find a positive result and performance to lift the mood as they host Crystal Palace in a Carabao Cup quarter-final clash tonight. Back-to-back draws against Fulham and Everton have further stalled the Gunners’ Premier League title bid, and it is put added pressure on delivering success in the cups.

Mikel Arteta was keen on Tuesday to point out he has won three trophies as Arsenal boss, including two Community Shields, but there is increased scrutiny on the Spaniard to bring more success to the club, five years into his reign. He has, though, opted to rotate his side, with Gabriel Jesus, Raheem Sterling and Kieran Tierney among those coming into the starting lineup.

Palace are on a five-match unbeaten run and come into this game on a high after an impressive win over rivals Brighton last time out. Victory tonight would match their best-ever run in this competition. This is the first of two matches in the space of a few days between these sides, with Arsenal travelling to Selhurst Park in the league this weekend. Follow all the action with Standard Sport’s LIVE blog below, featuring expert analysis from Simon Collings and Dom Smith at the ground!

Arsenal vs Crystal Palace latest news

• GOAL! Mateta scores inside four minutes

• How to watch: Sky Sports

• Arsenal team news: Tierney and Sterling start

• Crystal Palace team news: Nketiah on bench

Arsenal 0-1 Crystal Palace

20:01 , Matt Verri

30 mins: Chance here, for the Gunners.

Ball fired into Jesus on the edge of the box, great touch under pressure from Lacroix and the Palace defender trips him.

Free-kick in a great position.

Arsenal 0-1 Crystal Palace

19:59 , Matt Verri

28 mins: No real attacking threat from Arsenal yet - it’s been a familiar theme.

Already you’re starting to look at that bench, with the likes of Saka, Odegaard and Havertz on it.

Dom Smith at the Emirates Stadium

19:57 , Matt Verri

It's a clash of two VERY different managerial styles, right now.

While Glasner is practically pointing where each and every Palace pass should go before it goes there, Arteta is stood unmoved on the touchline.

1-0 Palace still.

Arsenal 0-1 Crystal Palace

19:56 , Matt Verri

25 mins: Jesus briefly in behind, but the touch isn’t great and he has to turn back.

Arsenal haven’t really been able to get the ball to Nwaneri in the final third. Been a quiet night for the midfielder so far.

Arsenal 0-1 Crystal Palace

19:54 , Matt Verri

23 mins: Trossard skips away from Kporha, poking the ball into space and he’s brought down. It’s a yellow card for the wing-back.

Real test now for the teenager on debut.

Arsenal 0-1 Crystal Palace

19:52 , Matt Verri

21 mins: Palace looking full of confidence, especially Eze. Takes a free-kick quickly, going for goal from about 50 yards out. Floats over the bar.

Arsenal with a long throw into the box, Merino flicks it on but Trossard can’t get it down in time to get a shot off.

Arsenal 0-1 Crystal Palace

19:49 , Matt Verri

18 mins: Trossard with a decent run down the left, clipped ball into the box but nobody there at the near post.

Cheers from the home fans as this time Kiwior does deal with a ball up to Mateta, even if he was launched to the ground at the same time.

Partey then takes too long on the ball, Eze robs him but the Arsenal man is very grateful to hear the whistle go for a foul.

Arsenal 0-1 Crystal Palace

19:46 , Matt Verri

15 mins: Arsenal look so, so vulnerable at the back.

Jesus loses it in midfield and Sarr can run at the defence, as Tierney backs off all the way into his box.

Sarr’s strike takes a slight deflecting and Raya does enough to turn it away.

Arsenal 0-1 Crystal Palace

19:44 , Matt Verri

13 mins: Timber looks to follow the Palace tactic and launches a ball long over the top of the defence.

Too long though, Trossard can only watch it bounce through to Trossard. Don’t think long balls are going to be Arsenal’s best bet with that front three.

Dom Smith at the Emirates Stadium

19:43 , Matt Verri

Oliver Glasner is absolutely livid at how open his right-sided defenders Kporha and Chalobah are leaving that flank for Arsenal to attack into.

Shouting at them, then his coaching staff, then them again.

Chill out, Oliver... Your team are winning... and Caleb is only 18!

Arsenal 0-1 Crystal Palace

19:42 , Matt Verri

11 mins: Palace get themselves into trouble playing out from the back, Sterling hounding after Mitchell and winning it back.

He picks out Trossard on the edge of the box, the Belgian blazes a first-time finish over the bar.

Simon Collings at the Emirates Stadium

19:41 , Matt Verri

Palace copying Monaco's tactic of having three players on the halfway for corners.

Means Arsenal cannot load the box as much as usual.

Arsenal 0-1 Crystal Palace

19:41 , Matt Verri

10 mins: Merino shifts it wide to Tierney, who is completely free on the left wing.

Tries to cut is back, but Chalobah charges it down. Appeals for a penalty are waved away, but it’s a corner for Arsenal. Trossard to take.

Timber, Partey and Kiwior the three in a huddle at the back post, Jesus and Merino joining them too.

Whipped into the near post, through everyone... hacked off the line!

Arsenal 0-1 Crystal Palace

19:38 , Matt Verri

7 mins: Palace fans at the opposite end to that goal but they are making plenty of noise after that perfect start.

Another long ball forward from Henderson and again Arsenal are all over the place. Nobody deals with it, bounces in behind and Sarr is away.

Tierney gets back to deal with it. Shambles from the Gunners.

Dom Smith at the Emirates Stadium

19:36 , Matt Verri

Just over three minutes on the clock and it's the side who made just one change from their Premier League XI tonight who have the lead.

Mateta bullies Kiwior, pushes him off course so he misses his header. Then he finishes with aplomb. Fine goal.

GOAL! Arsenal 0-1 Crystal Palace | Jean-Philippe Mateta 4'

19:35 , Matt Verri

PALACE IN FRONT!

Wow. Ball just lumped forward, Kiwior makes a complete mess of it and Mateta is clean through.

Too strong as Kiwior tries to get back, and he rolls a finish past Raya.

Arsenal 0-0 Crystal Palace

19:34 , Matt Verri

2 mins: Arsenal parking themselves in the Palace half early on, without really threatening.

Signs already would suggest that Tierney is going to be a traditional left-back tonight, no inverting into midfield.

KICK-OFF!

19:31 , Matt Verri

We’re up and running in north London!

Simon Collings at the Emirates Stadium

19:30 , Matt Verri

A big cheer as Kieran Tierney's name is read out by the PA announcer.

Even with his struggles, he is still something of a cult hero among fans.

Here we go!

19:27 , Matt Verri

Teams are in the tunnel, Jorginho with the captain’s armband tonight for Arsenal in the absence of Odegaard.

A few pats on the back from Nketiah on his way past some familiar faces.

Pre-match thoughts from Mikel Arteta...

19:21 , Matt Verri

The Arsenal boss has been explaining his bold team selection.

Not long now!

19:17 , Matt Verri

Warm-ups nearly done at the Emirates, with just under 15 minutes to go until kick-off.

Kieran Tierney has been linked with a move away in January, so this could prove to be one of his final Arsenal appearances.

As for Raheem Sterling, he absolutely must take his chance to impress tonight if he is to force his way into Mikel Arteta’s Premier League plans.

Dom Smith at the Emirates Stadium

19:10 , Matt Verri

Really strong line-up from Palace, suggesting Glasner is taking this competition very seriously now that a place in the semi-finals for the first time since 2012 is on the line.

Kporha in for the suspended Munoz is the only change.

I wondered whether Nketiah might be handed a start and Mateta rested, but Nketiah remains on the bench.

Glasner on Arsenal's threat from corners

19:04 , Matt Verri

Oliver Glasner is well aware of Arsenal’s set-piece threat ahead of tonight’s clash, admitting it is almost impossible to stop the Gunners creating chances.

“Everybody knows it, everybody tries different things,” the Palace boss said.

“To be honest, it looks like nobody could avoid that [Arsenal] have chances. They didn't score but they had one big chance against Everton. It's a strength, so the best thing is don't give them any corners, but this is the style, how they are playing.

“They force corners. They come from the wing, they overload sides, making the runs, early crosses, you block it… corner, and that's how they play.

“We have to deal with it. It's not that we are now just talking and thinking about the corners. We know it, but we don't make the issue bigger than it is.”

Why Arsenal do not regret selling Nketiah

18:56 , Matt Verri

It is telling that even as Arsenal’s attack has toiled at times this season, there have been few people questioning the club’s decision to sell Eddie Nketiah in the summer.

The Gunners banked £30million by selling the striker but, had he still been at Arsenal, tonight’s Carabao Cup quarter-final is exactly the game that Nketiah may have started.

The striker was lethal in that competition during his time at Arsenal, scoring 11 goals in 14 games.

Gabriel Jesus gets the nod for Arsenal - he has scored once in his last 33 games.

Some will argue Nketiah could have offered more than that, but the fact is Arsenal could not turn down £30m for a player who was never going to remove Kai Havertz as the team’s first-choice No9.

Given Nketiah was a homegrown player, the value of his sale was even greater due to the constraints of the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules.

There was a misconception around Nketiah that he was some form of super-sub, but he actually performed best when starting.

Last season, only one of his six goals came after he was brought off the bench. The season before that, all nine were scored when Nketiah started.

The striker would have been aware of that and it is why both he and Arsenal agreed that this summer was the right time for him to move on in search of regular game time.

Will Arteta decisions pay off?

18:49 , Matt Verri

There is plenty of strength on that Arsenal bench to call upon if required.

Huge night for Kphora

18:41 , Matt Verri

There’s a Crystal Palace debut for Caleb Kphora tonight.

It’s a strong side named by Oliver Glasner, with Ismaila Sarr and Eberechi Eze starting behind Jean-Philippe Mateta.

Eddie Nketiah only on the bench against his former club.

Arteta rotates his side...

18:35 , Matt Verri

Big calls from Mikel Arteta, who has opted to leave the likes of Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and William Saliba on the bench tonight.

Rare starts for Kieran Tierney and Raheem Sterling, while Gabriel Jesus leads the line despite his really poor run in front of goal.

Jurrien Timber at centre-back, as Thomas Partey fills in on the right.

Crystal Palace team news

18:33 , Matt Verri

Starting XI: Henderson, Chalobah, Lacroix, Guehi, Kporha, Lerma, Hughes, Mitchell, Sarr, Eze, Mateta

Subs: Turner, Clyne, Ward, Richards, Doucoure, Schlupp, Devenny, Kamada, Nketiah

Arsenal team news

18:32 , Matt Verri

Starting XI: Raya; Partey, Timber, Kiwior, Tierney; Nwaneri, Jorginho, Merino; Sterling, Jesus, Trossard

Subs: Setford, Saliba, Gabriel, Kacurri, Lewis-Skelly, Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli, Havertz

Place in the semi-finals on the line

18:19

Reminder that should this match be level after 90 minutes, it will go straight to a penalty shootout. No extra-time.

Winner will go through to the semi-finals, where it’s guaranteed to be an all-Premier League lineup

In the other last-eight matches, Newcastle are hosting Brentford tonight and Liverpool travel to Southampton.

Tomorrow night, Tottenham are at home to Manchester United.

Stand by...

18:12 , Matt Verri

All the team news from the Emirates coming up very shortly.

Big question for Mikel Arteta is how strong does he go. Ideally he would have liked to have given the likes of Raheem Sterling and maybe even Kieran Tierney some minutes.

But will he decide to stick with his first-team stars, given the Premier League struggles?

Nwaneri could force Arteta rethinl

18:04 , Matt Verri

Mikel Arteta has had plenty of selection headaches this season, but working out how to fit Ethan Nwaneri and Martin Odegaard into the same team is one he may welcome.

Despite being only 17, Nwaneri has broken into the Arsenal first-team squad this season and impressed by scoring four goals.

Three of those goals have come in the Carabao Cup and he should get another chance to shine tonight.

Nwaneri is likely to come into the side for Odegaard and the teenager has essentially become the Arsenal captain’s understudy.

Given Nwaneri’s rapid rise, there will come a point, though, when Arteta is forced to find a way to get him and Odegaard in the same team.

It is an exciting prospect and one that Arteta may have to consider sooner rather than later given Arsenal’s attack has misfired at points this season.

Read more on that here!

Stage is set!

17:53 , Matt Verri

Legally required to say ‘under the lights’ at some point tonight so we’ll get it over with...

Arteta eyeing trophy success

17:45 , Matt Verri

Mikel Arteta believes winning the Carabao Cup could lay the foundations for Arsenal to claim more silverware in the future.

The Gunners have won the FA Cup and two Community Shields during Arteta’s time in charge, which will hit five years come Friday.

Arteta spoke of his desire to win more trophies when he signed a new contract in September and is targeting this season’s Carabao Cup.

“It is really helpful, it brings belief, trust, positive energy, touching the cup, and being in the semi-final and beating somebody in the final,” said Arteta.

“It is that energy and it creates the right path to go and do something else, particularly because of the timing and when the competition is played in this country, it gets that momentum going.

“I fully believe in that, the fact that you are winning and you get into the next round and it creates something different around the team and that is why these kind of games are so important.

“It keeps everyone on their toes and everyone is willing to play those games and those competitions and if you can win it is momentum and belief and you are ready. The team is engaged every three days so to try to achieve that for the bigger ones.”

Nwaneri: Fans have only seen a small snippet

17:37 , Matt Verri

Ethan Nwaneri has hailed the influence of Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard on his development - but told Arsenal fans the best is yet to come.

The 17-year-old has scored four goals, including three in Arsenal’s run to the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.

“Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka have both been great for me, and not just me but all the young players,” said Nwaneri.

“They help us with everything, and somebody like Bukayo has had that journey already. That’s really important - he knows what we are going through, he can help me, offer me insights on what can help me.

“He’s so good to talk to because he’s so chilled and humble, but also I try to watch him as much as I can and learn that way. Martin as well, he was playing when he was 15 too, so to have that experience in the dressing room is great.

“I’ve made my first starts for the first team, scored my first professional goals too, but there is a lot more to come and it will come.

“I just know and I see where I want to be, and where I’m going to be, and I focus on that. Nobody has really seen anything from me yet, just a small snippet of what’s to come, so I’ve got a much bigger picture in my mind that I want to work towards.”

Read his full quotes here!

Standard Sport prediction

17:29 , Matt Verri

Arsenal look favourites at home and Arteta is not expected to rotate too much given a place in the last four is at stake.

Palace have certainly turned a corner after a miserable start to the season, and are now unbeaten in five. This could be a tight affair.

Arsenal to win 2-1.

Crystal Palace team news

17:22 , Matt Verri

Palace will be without Daniel Munoz (suspension), Adam Wharton and Matheus Franca, while Eberechi Eze will need to be assessed after suffering a swollen foot against Brighton.

Eddie Nketiah and Matt Turner could feature against their former club.

Arsenal team news

17:14 , Matt Verri

Myles Lewis-Skelly could tonight start his third game in a row.

The 18-year-old has started the last two games, against Monaco and Everton, at left-back in the absence of Oleksandr Zinchenko and Riccardo Calafiori.

Calafiori and Zinchenko are still out, so Lewis-Skelly could get the nod again - unless Jurrien Timber is shifted over from right-back.

David Raya is expected to start in goal as Neto, who is on loan from Bournemouth, is cup-tied.

Jakub Kiwior could get a start in the heart of defence, with Gabriel only just back from a muscle injury.

Ethan Nwaneri, who has scored three goals in the Carabao Cup this season, is likely to come into the midfield. Mikel Merino and Jorginho could partner him, with the latter an option to captain the side if Martin Odegaard is rested.

In attack, Arteta faces a dilemma as to whether he plays Bukayo Saka or not. Raheem Sterling will hope to get a start after being given the nod in the last two rounds.

Predicted Arsenal XI (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Nwaneri, Jorginho, Merino; Saka, Havertz, Sterling

How to watch Arsenal vs Crystal Palace

17:08 , Matt Verri

TV channel: The game will be broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League. Coverage starts at 7pm GMT ahead of a 7.30pm kick-off.

Live stream: Subscribers will be able to watch on a live stream via the Sky Go app.

LIVE coverage: Follow all the action right here with us! Simon Collings and Dom Smith will provide expert analysis from the ground.

Good evening!

17:01 , Matt Verri

Hello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Arsenal vs Crystal Palace!

The London clubs meet in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup - a place at Wembley is not far away.

Arsenal are need of a positive night to lift the mood and it’s not a great time to face Palace, who have found some form in recent weeks.

We’ll have all the latest updates, build-up and team news ahead of kick-off, which comes at 7:30pm GMT from the Emirates Stadium!