Image Credit: Marco Luzzani, Carl Recine/Getty ImagesArsenal vs Chelsea: Key Player Fitness Concerns
Arsenal may gain an advantage in their upcoming Premier League match against Chelsea, as doubts loom over the fitness of Chelsea's key player, Cole Palmer. Arsenal also faces uncertainty with Declan Rice potentially sidelined due to injury.
Arsenal could gain a considerable advantage before their Premier League match against Chelsea this weekend, as the Blues' key player, Cole Palmer, is currently unfit to play. Palmer has recently been performing exceptionally well for Chelsea, and his absence would be a significant loss for manager Enzo Maresca, who had planned to include the England international in the lineup at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Maresca confirmed that Palmer was unable to train and acknowledged that his availability for the Arsenal game is uncertain. "Cole Palmer wasn't able to train yesterday, he was not fit," said Maresca. "We hope to have him back against Arsenal, and we will assess him."
Palmer was also absent when Chelsea played at the Emirates last season, where they experienced a heavy 5-0 loss to Arsenal. Despite having strong depth in their attacking squad, the Blues would still prefer to have their key player available for such a crucial match.
Meanwhile, Arsenal faces its own injury issue as Declan Rice did not travel with the team for their Champions League game against Inter Milan. Manager Mikel Arteta confirmed that Rice sustained an injury during their match against Newcastle. "He was able to complete the game but hasn't been feeling well the last few days," said Arteta. "We'll evaluate him on Thursday to determine if he's ready for Chelsea."
