Chelsea anxiously await updates on Palmer’s fitness ahead of their clash with Arsenal.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has confirmed that Cole Palmer may miss Sunday’s Premier League clash against Arsenal, broadcast live on Sky Sports, after sustaining a knee injury during the recent 1-1 draw with Manchester United. Maresca expressed concern over Palmer’s condition, noting that the young star has not trained since being on the receiving end of a challenge from United’s Lisandro Martinez, which he described as “not a normal tackle.” The incident, which occurred in stoppage time, led to Martinez receiving a yellow card. Palmer will also be unavailable for Chelsea’s upcoming Conference League match against FC Noah.

Maresca acknowledged the risk of Palmer missing the Arsenal game, stating, “Yeah, for sure. He didn’t train the last two days. The tackle was not a normal one, but hopefully he can be back.” Palmer, who has impressed since Maresca’s arrival with seven goals, has become crucial to Chelsea’s creativity in attack.

Maresca also discussed Joao Felix’s situation, indicating that while the Portuguese forward is eager for more Premier League minutes, defensive balance has been prioritized. Felix, along with other big signings like Enzo Fernandez and Christopher Nkunku, has found game time challenging to secure. Maresca highlighted his efforts to balance opportunities across his 24-man squad, especially as Nkunku has excelled in the Conference League and Carabao Cup with eight goals, despite playing in various roles.