Cole Palmer’s availability for Chelsea’s upcoming Premier League clash with Arsenal is in doubt following an injury sustained in last Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Manchester United.
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The England international was on the receiving end of a dangerous tackle by Lisandro Martinez, who went in high, catching Palmer on the knee with his studs.
Palmer managed to complete the match but has since missed training sessions, leaving Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca uncertain about his fitness for the weekend.
Speaking ahead of Chelsea’s Europa Conference League match against Noah, Maresca confirmed that Palmer did not train the previous day, and his participation in Sunday’s game would depend on his recovery.
“We hope so, but we need to see and then decide,” Maresca stated. The manager acknowledged the challenge on Palmer was far from a normal tackle and expressed hope that the winger would be fit for the Arsenal match.
The challenge by Martinez, who was booked for the foul, sparked strong reactions from Maresca, who was adamant that the United defender should have been sent off. “The tackle was not a normal one. Hopefully, he can be back,” Maresca said.
He also voiced his frustration that VAR did not intervene and that the referee had opted for a yellow card instead of a red. Roy Keane, commenting on the incident, suggested that Martinez might have been embarrassed by Palmer’s skill and that the tackle was a nasty one.
If Palmer is unavailable, Chelsea would face a significant loss. The winger has been in excellent form this season, scoring seven goals in his first 10 Premier League appearances.