Ghana midfielder, Thomas Partey, played a pivotal role as Arsenal triumphed 3-2 over Crystal Palace on Thursday night, securing a spot in the semi-finals of this season’s EFL Cup.
Partey, who started in the Gunners’ lineup, was deployed in a right-back role for the quarter-final clash. His versatility was evident as he contributed to both the defensive setup and the overall team performance.
The match got off to an unexpected start when Crystal Palace took the lead in the 4th minute. A defensive error allowed Jean-Philippe Mateta to capitalize, rolling the ball into the net from close range to give the visitors a 1-0 advantage.
Arsenal responded in the 54th minute when captain Martin Ødegaard delivered a pinpoint pass to Gabriel Jesus in the box. Spotting goalkeeper Dean Henderson off his line, Jesus executed a clever lob to level the score at 1-1.
The Gunners took control of the match in the 73rd minute, with Bukayo Saka playing a crucial role in the build-up. Saka squared the ball to Jesus, who expertly slotted a low shot past Henderson to put Arsenal ahead 2-1.
In the 81st minute, Ødegaard’s excellent through ball found Jesus once again, and the Brazilian reacted quickly to fire another close-range finish past Henderson, extending Arsenal’s lead to 3-1.
Crystal Palace pulled one back in the 85th minute, with Eddie Nketiah heading in a lofted pass from Nathaniel Clyne past Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya, making it 3-2. However, Arsenal held on to claim the victory.
Partey played the first 46 minutes before making way for William Saliba in the second half, as the Gunners sealed their place in the EFL Cup semi-finals with a hard-fought win.
