Kepa Arrizabalaga was Arsenal's League Cup quarter-final hero with the decisive penalty shoot-out save that completed a miserable evening for Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix on Tuesday. Lacroix's own goal put Arsenal ahead with 10 minutes left at the Emirates Stadium before Marc Guehi snatched Palace's stoppage-time equaliser in the 1-1 draw. That set the stage for a shoot-out in which both teams scored their first seven penalties. William Saliba converted Arsenal's eighth kick and Kepa dived to his right to save Lacroix's effort and secure an 8-7 victory. It was a cathartic moment for the Spanish goalkeeper, who infamously refused to be substituted before Chelsea's League Cup final penalty shoot-out defeat against Manchester City in 2019. Kepa also missed a spot-kick in the Blues' 2022 League Cup final shoot-out loss to Liverpool. The Gunners will play London rivals Chelsea in the semi-finals over two legs in January and February, with Manchester City facing holders Newcastle in the other last four clash. "We generated a lot and should have scored many more goals. When you don't close the games, it can always happen that you concede," Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said. "We had some big individual performances. Kepa, his level of commitment with the group is just incredible. "I think the players were so composed with the penalties and in the end, Kepa managed to save one. We are where we want to be." Arsenal are into the League Cup semi-finals for a second successive year as they chase their first trophy since winning the FA Cup in 2020. The north Londoners have only won the League Cup twice, with their last triumph coming in 1992-93, before any of their current squad were born. After celebrating Christmas on Thursday, Arteta's men will turn their attention back to the title race with home games against Brighton and third-placed Aston Villa to close out 2025. Winning their first English title since 2004 is clearly Arsenal's main aim this season, but lifting the League Cup in March would be a significant boost to a club starved of silverware in recent years. Arteta made eight changes to the side that won at Everton on Saturday, but still fielded a strong line-up featuring William Saliba, Mikel Merino, Eberechi Eze, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus. Jesus, who ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in January, started for the first time in 345 days after returning to action as a substitute against Club Brugge earlier this month. Kepa redemption Noni Madueke, another of Arteta's changes, should have put Arsenal ahead early on but he was twice denied by Palace 'keeper Walter Benitez, who produced an inspired performance. Benitez plunged to his left to keep out Jesus's close-range header with another fine save and repelled another blast from Madueke. By the time Jurrien Timber headed wastefully over from 10 yards, Arteta must have been wondering if Arsenal would ever make the breakthrough. Arteta sent on Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard in the second half, the latter making an immediate impact with a cross that Jesus nodded narrowly wide. Arsenal finally broke the stalemate in the 80th minute. Not for the first time this season, it was a Gunners set-piece that did the damage as Saka's corner caused chaos and Lacroix, under pressure from Saliba, poked past Benitez as he tried to clear. But Palace gave Arsenal a taste of their own set-piece medicine, equalising with their first shot on target in the 95th minute. Adam Wharton's free-kick was headed down by Jefferson Lerma and Guehi slotted home from close range. After a host of nerveless penalties in the shoot-out, Kepa ended as Arsenal's saviour.

In a major boost for Brazilian football, Neymar Jr. has reached a final agreement to extend his stay with his boyhood club, Santos, as he sets his sights on the 2026 World Cup. According to reports from ESPN, the 33-year-old superstar has agreed to terms that will keep him in Brazil at least until the next global tournament. Neymar’s current contract was set to expire at the end of this month. Despite intense speculation linking him to several clubs—including a potential reunion with Lionel Messi at Inter Miami—the "Poster Boy" of Brazilian football chose to prioritize Santos. Since returning to the club from Saudi side Al-Hilal last January, Neymar has been in fine form, netting 12 goals and providing 6 assists in 30 appearances. A Mission for Redemption The former Barcelona star played a pivotal role in saving Santos from relegation last season. His new six-month extension is strategically designed to ensure he remains match-fit and sharp heading into the 2026 World Cup. However, while his club future is settled, his immediate fitness remains a concern. Neymar is scheduled to undergo knee surgery shortly to address a persistent injury he played through during the tail end of last season. The procedure is expected to sideline him for at least a month. The Road to 2026 Neymar has been away from the national team for the past two years, but his ambition remains undiminished. "Returning to the national team is my dream," Neymar stated. "I still have a mission to complete [the World Cup], which might be my last chance. I will fight for it." The path back won't be easy. Brazil’s head coach, Carlo Ancelotti, has sent a clear message that selections will be based on merit rather than reputation. Brazil has been drawn into a challenging group for the 2026 World Cup alongside Haiti, Morocco, and Scotland—a group Ancelotti describes as a significant test for the Seleção.

Outshining the biggest stars in world football, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and French forward Ousmane Dembélé has been named ‘The Best FIFA Men’s Player’ for 2025. The prestigious trophy was presented to him on Tuesday night (December 16) during FIFA’s glitzy awards ceremony held in Doha, Qatar. This accolade follows his Ballon d’Or triumph earlier this September, marking a historic "double" for the winger. His rise to the top comes on the back of a sensational 2024–25 season where he played a pivotal role in securing four trophies for PSG. A Dominant Statistical Season The eligibility period for this year's award spanned from August 11, 2024, to August 2, 2025. During this window, the 28-year-old was nothing short of unstoppable. Read More Kolkata Splurges on Mustafizur: The Price Tag for 'The Fizz' Revealed Dembélé was the primary architect of PSG’s maiden UEFA Champions League title, scoring 8 goals during their European campaign. Across all competitions last season, he racked up a staggering 35 goals and 16 assists in 53 appearances. Domestic and International Impact Beyond Europe, Dembélé's dominance extended to French soil: Domestic Treble: Led PSG to titles in Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France. Super Cup Hero: Scored the lone winning goal in the Trophée des Champions. Club World Cup: Despite missing the group stages of the newly formatted 32-team FIFA Club World Cup due to injury, he returned for the knockout rounds to guide PSG to the final. Although they ultimately fell to Chelsea, his crucial goals in the quarter-finals and semi-finals were instrumental. Fresh Format for FIFA Awards FIFA introduced a change to the ceremony's traditional flow this year. In a departure from previous years, accolades such as the Puskás Award, FIFA Fair Play, and Best Goalkeeper were announced before the main event began. This adjustment ensured that the spotlight remained solely on the crowning of the world's best player on the main stage.

Spectators witnessed a thrilling spectacle in the English Premier League on Tuesday (December 15) as hosts Manchester United were held to a dramatic 4-4 draw by Bournemouth at Old Trafford. The first half of the United-Bournemouth clash saw the home side take a 2-1 lead into the break. However, the Red Devils lost that lead within the first seven minutes of the second half after Bournemouth strikers Evanilson and Marcus Tavernier scored to put the visitors ahead. United quickly turned the game around in the space of two minutes, thanks to a Bruno Fernandes free-kick and a header from Matheus Cunha. Just as United started dreaming of a victory with their lead restored, the match concluded in a gripping 4-4 draw. The breath-taking equalizer came with just six minutes remaining in the game, courtesy of 19-year-old Elie Junior Kroupi. Goalkeepers Tested in Shootout The high-octane match saw the two teams take a combined total of 39 shots, a statistic that highlights how busy the goalkeepers were throughout the game. Towards the end, United goalkeeper Lammens had to make two crucial saves to deny Bournemouth’s David Brooks, saves that ultimately prevented the visitors from taking all three points. The draw means Manchester United missed the chance to break into the top five, remaining sixth in the table with 26 points from 16 matches. Bournemouth, despite the result, are now unbeaten in seven consecutive matches and sit in 13th place with 21 points.

Manchester City secured a dominant 3-0 victory away at Crystal Palace in the English Premier League on Sunday (December 14). Erling Haaland scored a brace, with the remaining goal coming from Phil Foden. The win increases the pressure on table-toppers Arsenal. Crystal Palace dominated the first half at Selhurst Park. The in-form London club attacked City aggressively from the start but failed to convert their chances into goals. The hosts conceded against the run of play in the 41st minute. Following a counter-attack, Haaland headed in a cross from Nunes delivered from the right flank. The Citizens went into the break with a one-goal lead. City took control of the game in the second half. In the 69th minute, Phil Foden scored City's second goal. The French star Cherki capitalized on an opponent's mistake, recovered the ball, and passed it to Foden. The English midfielder beat the goalkeeper with a left-footed shot from approximately 20 yards out. Foden has now scored 6 goals in his last four matches. Haaland hammered the final nail into Palace's coffin in the 89th minute. Palace's goalkeeper, Henderson, fouled a City player inside the penalty box, and the referee awarded a penalty.  Haaland converted the spot-kick for his second goal of the night. The Norwegian star now has 17 goals in 16 league matches this season. The Citizens sit in second place with 34 points from 16 matches. Arsenal leads the table with 36 points from the same number of matches.