Bernd Leno was man of the match and the shootout hero as Arsenal resisted a second-string Liverpool side to set up a quarter-final clash with Manchester City on Thursday night.
Seven saves in normal time and two more in the penalty shootout not only sent Arsenal through in the Carabao Cup, but provided personal vindication for Mikel Arteta.
The unexpectedly brilliant form of Emiliano Martinez during the enforced absence of Leno due to a knee injury suffered in June gave the Arsenal boss a selection headache.
Martinez starred in their FA Cup final triumph over Chelsea in August, but Arteta made the call to stick with his No 1, signed from Bayer Leverkusen for £20m in 2018.