Maresca to make late decision on Palmer ahead of Arsenal

Enzo Maresca says Chelsea will make a late decision on whether Cole Palmer will play against Arsenal on Sunday.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca hopes Cole Palmer will be available for the crucial Premier League clash against Arsenal despite picking up an injury against Manchester United last week.

Palmer, Chelsea’s top scorer with 25 goals last season, was injured following a serious foul by Lisandro Martinez during the 1-1 draw at Old Trafford. The England international missed Chelsea training sessions this week

Palmer is ineligible to play on Thursday as he is not part of Chelsea’s Conference League squad, but there are questions over his fitness for the big game against Arsenal. Maresca provided an encouraging update, revealing the 22-year-old will undergo a late fitness test ahead of the London Derby.

“Cole is getting better, but just because he can walk and have dinner doesn’t mean he is fully fit,” Maresca told reporters. “He’s improving, and we still have two days to prepare for the game. Hopefully, we can have him join a session on Saturday, and then we’ll make a decision.”

Palmer has played a key role for Chelsea this season, scoring seven goals and providing five assists. His absence will be a major blow for the Blues, who are currently level on points with Arsenal in the league.

In addition to Palmer, Chelsea will also monitor Jadon Sancho’s fitness. Maresca checked the availability of the rest of the squad and said his rotation strategy helped reduce injuries.

“Since the season began, we’ve tried to protect players by rotating them,” Maresca explained. “Playing three matches a week is very different from just one, and we’ve worked hard to keep the squad in shape.”

Arsenal, on the other hand, come into the game with positive news regarding their injury situation. Captain Martin Odegaard is expected to feature, while Declan Rice is likely to feature despite picking up an injury in last week’s defeat to Newcastle.