Chelsea’s Cole Palmer is at risk of missing Sunday’s highly anticipated Premier League clash against Arsenal after suffering a knee injury during the recent match against Manchester United, according to the Daily Express.
The 22-year-old winger was forced off the pitch at Old Trafford after a rough tackle from United’s Lisandro Martinez, which Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca described as “not a normal one.” The challenge, which took place in stoppage time and earned Martinez a yellow card, has left Palmer unable to train since.
“He didn’t train on Tuesday; we’ll see today if he’s able to join us,” Maresca said on Wednesday.
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With just days remaining before the Arsenal game, Maresca remains hopeful, stating, “Hopefully, he’ll be ready, but we need to wait and see before making a final decision.”
When asked about the possibility of Palmer missing the match, Maresca confirmed it was a real concern, given the recent lack of training and the severity of the tackle. “The tackle was quite clearly not a normal one, but we hope he can recover in time.”
Palmer has been a standout performer for Chelsea this season, scoring seven goals and becoming a key player under Maresca’s management. However, he will not feature in Thursday’s Conference League match against Armenian side FC Noah due to eligibility rules.
As Palmer’s availability remains uncertain, Maresca is likely to experiment with alternative options in the upcoming game.