CHELSEA SUPERSTAR FORWARD COLE PALMER A DOUBT FOR TUESDAY’S GAME AGAINST ARSENAL
Chelsea forward Cole Palmer is in doubt for the club’s bout against title hopefuls Arsenal at the Emirates tonight after missing the team’s training session on Monday due to illness, the club confirmed on Monday evening.
The club also confirmed that right back Malo Gusto is also currently undergoing medical assessment and is also doubtful for the game. Striker Christopher Nkunku, who has been out of the side with a hamstring injury, is still in partial team training and is also unlikely to feature.
Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino, however, believes it’s a good opportunity for the rest of his squad to prove themselves if Palmer isn’t able to play on Tuesday. “With or without [Cole Palmer] always we believe that we can win,” said the Argentine. “The most important [thing] is the team. The most important is the collective. Of course, he [Palmer] is an important part of the team, he’s doing fantastic for us but the thing is that, it’s Chelsea. Of course, there’s plenty of players that can do the job, also.”
“It’s a good challenge if Palmer is not available vs. Arsenal. If I were them [the players], I would be motivated to go out there tomorrow and show this is Chelsea Football Club, not Cole Palmer Football Club.”
Palmer leads all Premier League players in goals scored in 2024 and has been a crucial piece of Chelsea’s success in recent games. The English forward has scored a staggering 12 goals in the Premier League this year alone and is trailed by Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins (10), and Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak (9).
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was asked about his thoughts on Chelsea possibly being without their top goal scorer for their game on Tuesday and how big of a boost that would be for the Gunners, a question the Spaniard wasn’t particularly bothered by.
“I don’t know, we have no control on their players’ availability,” said Arteta. “We have control on ours. Whoever they put out there, you look at the squad that they have, the quality that they have, it’s great. I think they’re doing very, very well. I think they’re doing much better than people talk [about them]. It will be a top match tomorrow for sure.”
Arteta said he had huge admiration for Pochettino and the work he’s doing at Chelsea but declined to compare his start at the club to his own at Arsenal, citing the difference in circumstances between both situations. “I think the journeys of those clubs are very, very different,” he said. “Nothing to compare, in my opinion. Huge admiration for Mau [Mauricio Pochettino] because I knew him 23 years ago and I really wish him all the best, he’s an incredible manager. He’s a huge leader and he will inspire that club to get where they want to get, that’s for sure.”
With Palmer unlikely to feature for the Blues, Chelsea are expected to rely on young 22-year-old striker Nicolas Jackson, who has scored nine times in the Premier League this season. Asked about his situation, Pochettino said of the Senegalese striker, “Jackson is doing fantastic and will always have my support. He’s doing an amazing job for the team: running, scoring, assists. It’s not easy [for any player] on their first season. He fights for the club and he will be better next season, no doubt.”
Including Palmer, Gusto and Nkunku, other players that are unlikely to feature for Chelsea include goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, left back Ben Chilwell, midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu, and fullback Levi Colwill. Long-term absentees Wesley Fofana (ACL), Romeo Lavia (thigh) and Reece James (hamstring) are still undergoing rehabilitation and will not be available.
-Maher Abucheri
Twitter: @pabloikonyero
Photo: Ank Kumar. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.