Arsenal beat Liverpool 5-4 on penalties to reach the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup after the sides drew 0-0.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta believes his side took a “step forward” by beating Liverpool on penalties to reach the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.
After a goalless 90 minutes at Anfield, Gunners goalkeeper Bernd Leno saved two penalties in the shootout before Joe Willock scored the winning spot-kick.
Jota scores as Liverpool comeback to beat Arsenal
-
Leno to Arsenal’s rescue
Mohamed Elneny’s miss earlier in the shootout looked like it was going to be costly, but German goalkeeper Leno salvaged the situation for Arsenal.
Leno’s excellence was a theme of the match, particularly once Liverpool – who had made nine changes from their win on Monday – got to grips with the game towards the end of the first period.
The former Bayer Leverkusen keeper brilliantly parried new signing Diogo Jota’s header and deserved some fortune when Takumi Minamino hit the crossbar with the follow up when he ought to have scored.
While Liverpool did not exactly carve Arsenal open at will, superb stops from Leno prevented both Jota and Virgil van Dijk from finding the left corner of the net after the break.
He became the first Arsenal goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet at Anfield since Vito Mannone in September 2012.
Arsenal were organised and disciplined in defence and despite Mohamed Salah joining Minamino and Jota in an experienced frontline for Jurgen Klopp’s side, they could not find the breakthrough.
