Chelsea full squad for Arsenal as crucial Cole Palmer injury decision made

Having watched Mikel Arteta be without Martin Odegaard for over two months, Enzo Maresca may well be feeling a dose of serious sympathy for his counterpart on Sunday. The Chelsea manager now faces his own nervous wait and puzzle to solve.

Leading into the Premier League meeting at Stamford Bridge, Cole Palmer had a maximum of one training session. Whether or not he made it will not be clear until the teams are out, just over an hour before kick off.

Palmer, who has contributed to more goals than any other player in the league this season prior to the weekend's action, is a serious fitness doubt for Chelsea. In an eery repeat, his only match missed for the club outside of suspension since signing 14 months ago was earlier this year against Arsenal.

READ MORE:Chelsea vs Arsenal early team news hint dropped amid nervy Cole Palmer injury wait

READ MORE:Palmer injury update, Madueke hint - Three things spotted in Chelsea training before Arsenal

That was down to an illness, this is a genuine injury. Palmer was on the receiving end of a poor, late, and high challenge from Manchester United's Lisandro Martinez last weekend. Although he finished what was left of the game, he had to be loaded up with ice at full-time.

The 22-year-old wasn't able to feature on Thursday against FC Noah due to not being selected in the competition squad for the group phase, but appears not to have been ready physically regardless. Maresca revealed ahead of that game that it was becoming touch and go whether he would make Arsenal.

Chelsea trained again on Saturday, the last chance Palmer had to get out onto the grass before Arsenal roll up. Fortunately for Maresca, it is the only worry he has in the group. Unfortunately for Maresca, it is perhaps with the most influential individual in the league.

The rest of the squad largely picks itself from there. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall may well see himself miss out entirely due to the plethora of options that can fill the bench with an almost fully fit side. Axel Disasi, Benoit Badiashile, and a host of the midweek XI that battered Noah will also do well to get a place even on the bench.

Unless there have been late injuries picked up, there will be a familiar and strong feeling to the names Maresca does select. Here, football.london has what is expected at SW6, with all eyes on Palmer.

Goalkeepers: Robert Sanchez, Filip Jorgensen

Defenders: Malo Gusto, Reece James, Tosin Adarabioyo, Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill, Marc Cucurella, Renato Veiga

Midfielders: Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, Romeo Lavia

Attackers: Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke, Christopher Nkunku, Nicolas Jackson, Mykhailo Mudryk, Pedro Neto, Jadon Sancho, Joao Felix