Cole Palmer To Return In Chelsea vs Arsenal? Enzo Maresca Shares Big Update Before London Derby

Chelsea fans can heave a sigh of relief as their star forward Cole Palmer is set to be available for their Premier League clash against Arsenal on Sunday, revealed head coach Enzo Maresca. Cole Palmer return has sparked a buzz since he was out of the Chelsea set-up for a long time, missing as many as 13 games due to a recurring groin problem. Now, Palmer is gearing up to make his first appearance for the Blues in over two months.

After completing a full 90 minutes in their season opener against Crystal Palace on 17 August, Palmer succumbed to a groin issue, which kept him out of their next two top-flight games. He then came off the bench against Brentford and even scored a goal, but injuries reared their ugly head over the attacking wonderkid again the following outing as Palmer went off against Manchester United just 21 minutes in. In this article, we'll discuss what Mareska shared about Cole Palmer return.

Palmer Injury Update

In a press conference, Maresca spilled the beans on Palmer injury update. The Chelsea boss revealed that Palmer is available for the Chelsea vs Arsenal clash and could be included in the starting lineup too for the Sunday game. The Italian manager further stated that everyone in the team was delighted to have Palmer back in Chelsea from a lengthy spell on the sidelines, while hailing him as their “best player”.

Cole Palmer return means the 23-year-old starlet is likely to take up his attacking midfield position, operating right behind the striker as the key orchestrator of their attack. Estevao's growing influence on the side means he could start on the right side of Palmer with Alejandro Garnacho taking up the opposite flank. With a goal against Barcelona on Tuesday, Liam Delap demonstrated that he can be counted upon in the big games, but Maresca could still stick with the more consistent Pedro Neto to lead the line for them in Chelsea vs Arsenal derby.

Palmer will be key in Chelsea vs Arsenal

Since coming from Manchester City two years ago, Cole Palmer has taken up the mantle of Chelsea's talisman and run hell for leather. He bagged 25 goals in his debut campaign before netting another 18 last term, which includes a sensational hat-trick against Manchester United in the Premier League and a double in their 3-0 win over PSG in the FIFA Club World Cup final, highlighting his big-game pedigree.

Blessed with nimble feet that allow him to dance past his markers with the grace of a gazelle, Palmer is adept at providing pinpoint crosses and is also known for his explosive pace. His return to the Chelsea squad is a big boost for the Europa Conference League holders, who are chasing Arsenal in the Premier League.