Crystal Palace player suffers ligament injury pre-Arsenal match

Chris Richards will miss Crystal Palace’s match against Arsenal this weekend, having damaged ligaments in his ankle last Sunday.

Chris Richards of Crystal Palace looks on during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Crystal Palace at Etihad Stadium on May 13, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) — Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images

Oliver Glasner insisted ahead of Crystal Palace’s previous match against Brentford that he was going to take their final two Premier League fixtures very seriously, opting not to rest players for their Europa Conference League final on May 27th.

But the Palace manager saw the potential negative consequences of that approach last weekend, as defender Chris Richards was forced off early in the Brentford game with an injury.

Though Glasner initially told the media he hoped Richards would be back in midweek, he’s since confirmed that the player will definitely miss the Arsenal game, and possibly also their Europa Conference League final.

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 26: Oliver Glasner, Manager of Crystal Palace, applauds the fans following the Premier League match between Arsenal and Crystal Palace at Emirates Stadium on October 26, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) — Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images

“Chris will miss the Arsenal game,” Glasner admitted. “It’s now 50/50 for him and for us if he can play in the final in Leipzig.

“He tore two ligaments in his ankle. I think it’s stable, but quite swollen… He is in from sunrise until sunset having treatments.”

Palace will also be without former Gunner Eddie Nketiah for the Arsenal match, and Cheick Doucoure appears likely to remain absent, having missed the entire season so far. Everyone else should be fit.

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 27: Eddie Nketiah of Crystal Palace celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Liverpool at Selhurst Park on September 27, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Tom Dulat/Getty Images) — Photo by Tom Dulat/Getty Images

Of course, this game is now significantly lower stakes, with Arsenal having already won the Premier League on Tuesday.

Palace will also have an eye on the Europa Conference League final the following Wednesday, and the media should no longer care whether or not Glasner rotates his side with that match in mind.

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