League Cup quarter-finals: Arsenal to host Crystal Palace at Emirates

Post by : Mara Rahim

Premier League leaders Arsenal will welcome Crystal Palace to the Emirates Stadium in the League Cup quarter-finals, following Thursday's draw. The tie is scheduled for the week commencing December 15 and is expected to be a highlight of the last-eight fixtures.

Arsenal, balancing ambitions in both domestic and European competitions, have often used this tournament to rotate and test squad depth. Mikel Arteta has historically given opportunities to younger players while still treating each round seriously, and his side will approach this match with full focus after Palace’s recent shock result.

Crystal Palace arrive buoyed by a convincing 3-0 victory over Liverpool at Selhurst Park. That result — against the competition's most decorated club with 10 League Cup wins — has strengthened Palace’s confidence and underlined their threat in knockout ties. Manager Oliver Glasner highlighted his team’s organisation and attacking intent as reasons for optimism heading to north London.

The win over Liverpool stands out as one of Palace's recent landmark nights, and the club’s supporters will be hoping for another statement performance at the Emirates. Palace are still chasing their first League Cup trophy, so progression to the semi-finals would represent a significant milestone for the club.

Third-tier Cardiff City remain the competition’s only non-Premier League representative after drawing Chelsea at home. Cardiff’s advance to the quarter-finals has been one of the tournament’s surprises, achieved by overcoming several higher-ranked opponents en route to this stage.

Hosting Chelsea presents Cardiff with both a stern test and a chance to extend their unlikely run. With the support of their home crowd, the Welsh side will aim to continue defying expectations. Chelsea, managed by Mauricio Pochettino, will see the match as an opportunity to build momentum and pursue a first domestic cup in some years.

Defending champions Newcastle United will play Fulham at St James' Park in another compelling tie. Newcastle, who lifted the trophy last season, remain intent on defending their crown. Manager Eddie Howe has stressed the importance of treating each cup match as decisive while the squad balances Premier League and European commitments.

Manchester City are set to host Brentford at the Etihad Stadium. City — winners of the competition on eight occasions in recent years — will target another deep run under Pep Guardiola, while Brentford will seek to use their attacking approach and resilience to challenge the favourites.

The quarter-finals present a mix of established powers and ambitious challengers. Brentford, Fulham, Cardiff City and Crystal Palace are among the clubs still chasing their first League Cup title, adding an element of unpredictability to the draw.

The confirmed fixtures are:

• Arsenal vs Crystal Palace

• Cardiff City vs Chelsea

• Newcastle United vs Fulham

• Manchester City vs Brentford

With matches slated for mid-December, supporters can expect an intense week of cup football as teams contest places in the semi-finals and continue the unpredictable journey toward Wembley.