Chelsea return to Premier League action on Sunday aiming to stretch their unbeaten run to seven matches, but standing in their way is a rampant Arsenal side hitting top gear at exactly the right time. Enzo Maresca’s injury crisis shows no signs of easing, yet there’s genuine hope that Cole Palmer – absent for over two months – could make a dramatic return at Stamford Bridge.
Palmer’s freak injury nightmare: Door 1, Toe 0
The England star was already racing to recover from a nagging groin problem when disaster struck in the most Chelsea way possible: he fractured his toe after kicking a door at home. Yes, really.
Maresca had initially ruled Palmer out until after the Arsenal clash, but the Italian offered a glimmer of hope ahead of the midweek demolition of Barcelona.
“He’s already back on the grass, touching the ball and the feeling is good,” Maresca revealed. “I don’t think he’ll be available for Arsenal… but he’s doing well.”
Translation? It’s 30/70 against, but never say never with Palmer. If he doesn’t make it, a return against Leeds United next weekend feels far more realistic.
Four confirmed absentees – including two long-term blows
Roméo Lavia’s thigh injury picked up against Qarabag continues to frustrate, with mid-December the vague target. Youngster Dário Essugo (also thigh) won’t return until the new year, while Levi Colwill faces a season-defining battle after rupturing his ACL. Mykhaylo Mudryk remains suspended pending the outcome of his doping case.
No fresh concerns emerged from the 3-0 Champions League thrashing of Barcelona, giving Maresca a relatively stable squad to pick from.
Three changes on the cards – Delap set for first Premier League start?
After coming off the bench to score in midweek, Liam Delap is pushing hard to lead the line ahead of Pedro Neto. Expect rotation on the wings too, with Alejandro Garnacho and João Pedro both in contention to freshen up the attack.
Predicted Chelsea XI vs Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Sánchez; Cucurella, Chalobah, Adarabioyo, James; Fernández, Caicedo; Garnacho, João Pedro, Neto; Delap
A mouthwatering London derby awaits – and if Palmer somehow defies the odds to step onto that pitch, the roof at Stamford Bridge might just come off.