Date Confirmed for Arsenal vs Crystal Palace Carabao Cup Quarter-Final

Arsenal will host Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup quarter-final on December 23 at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal will face Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup quarter-final on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, with kick-off at 8:00 PM GMT at the Emirates Stadium. The announcement ends days of uncertainty caused by both clubs’ packed December schedules.

The fixture will be broadcast live in the UK on Sky Sports Football and ITV, with international coverage available through the EFL’s global broadcast partners. Fans around the world can look forward to one of the standout matchups of the quarter-final stage, as two in-form sides prepare to battle for a place in the semi-finals.

Buy Arsenal's 2025–26 Home Kit through the ArsenalTalks Shop

Click this link to buy the new 2025–26 Arsenal home kit through our ArsenalTalks Shop.

Arsenal and Palace’s Road to the Quarter-Finals

Both Arsenal and Crystal Palace have enjoyed strong Carabao Cup campaigns so far. Arsenal advanced with back-to-back 2–0 wins over Port Vale and Brighton & Hove Albion, showing their depth and defensive resilience. Meanwhile, Palace stunned many observers by defeating Millwall on penalties before producing a memorable 3–0 victory at Anfield against last season’s finalists Liverpool.

This meeting will mark the sixth time the two clubs have faced each other in League Cup history. Their most memorable clash came in 1993, when Arsenal knocked Palace out in the semi-finals before going on to lift the trophy.

Fixture Change and Scheduling Tension

The EFL initially planned the quarter-final for December 16 but moved it to December 23 to accommodate Crystal Palace’s UEFA Conference League clash with KuPS on December 18.

Mikel Arteta had expressed concerns about the tight turnaround, noting that Palace would have faced three matches in five days under the original plan. However, while the new date offers Palace breathing space, both teams will still face challenges — with Premier League fixtures on December 21 (Arsenal at Everton, Palace at Leeds United) giving them just one day rest before the cup tie.

With a semi-final spot on the line, the tie promises to be one of the most compelling fixtures of Arsenal’s festive calendar. The Gunners will be eager to continue their momentum across competitions, while Palace will aim to build on their historic cup run and cause another upset.

As the countdown begins, all eyes will be on Mikel Arteta’s squad selection and whether Arsenal can maintain their defensive strength against a Palace side brimming with confidence.

Want more Arsenal updates? Visit our homepage.