Arsenal vs Crystal Palace forced to halt as Chris Richards stretched off pitch after worrying injury

Ed Griffiths

By Ed Griffiths


Published: 23/12/2025

- 21:57

Updated: 23/12/2025

- 22:45

Medics taped around his ankle

Arsenal vs Crystal Palace has been halted after Chris Richards was stretchered off with a worrying injury.

Richards went down injured with medical staff rushing onto the field during their Carabao Cup quarter-final against Arsenal.


His right boot was removed, showing blood on his sock.

Medics taped around his ankle.

The Palace defender was then stretchered off the pitch.

Arsenal went on to secure their place in the Carabao Cup semi-finals after an extraordinary penalty shootout triumph over Crystal Palace at the Emirates on Tuesday evening.

The Gunners prevailed 8-7 in a nerve-shredding contest from the spot, with goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga diving low to his right to deny Maxence Lacroix's decisive effort.

It proved a cruel twist for the Palace defender, who had earlier put through his own net to give Arsenal the lead in normal time.

Chris Richards

Richards went down injured with medical staff rushing onto the field

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Mikel Arteta's side will now meet London rivals Chelsea in next month's last-four encounter, setting up a blockbuster capital derby for a place in the final.

The hosts dominated proceedings throughout the opening 45 minutes, enjoying 79 per cent possession while restricting Palace to just two shots, neither of which troubled Kepa.

Gabriel Martinelli tormented young right-back Jaydee Canvot down the left flank, with the 19-year-old eventually substituted at half-time after a torrid evening.

Walter Benitez kept the visitors in the contest with a string of fine saves, denying Noni Madueke and Gabriel Jesus on multiple occasions.

The breakthrough finally arrived in the 80th minute when Bukayo Saka's corner caused chaos in the Palace box, with headers from Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber both blocked before the ball deflected off Lacroix and into his own net.

Palace refused to surrender, however, and snatched a dramatic equaliser five minutes into stoppage time.

Justin Devenny's whipped free-kick from the left was met by Jefferson Lerma, whose towering header at the back post found its way into the six-yard area.

Marc Guehi reacted quickest to the loose ball, poking home through Kepa's legs to stun the home crowd and force a shootout.

The Palace captain's clinical finish came after William Saliba had fouled Devenny down the left, presenting the visitors with one final opportunity to deliver the ball into a dangerous area.

Nine minutes of added time had been signalled, partly due to an earlier injury to Chris Richards, who departed on a stretcher with a significant ankle wound.

The shootout itself proved a masterclass in composure, with the first fourteen penalties all finding the net.

On the final day, Lacroix, seeking redemption for his earlier own goal, saw Kepa guess correctly and parry his effort away to spark jubilant celebrations among the home supporters.