Cole Palmer Chelsea injury latest - Arsenal hint, Maresca update, return plan

The last time Cole Palmer missed a Premier League game for Chelsea it was against Arsenal. Despite Mauricio Pochettino's rallying cry for his side to show they weren't 'Cole Palmer FC', things backfired.

Chelsea lost 5-0 at the Emirates Stadium and Palmer, fresh from scoring four just a week earlier against Everton, somehow saw his stock and importance rise even more. Enzo Maresca will be hoping that he doesn't need to come up for a plan without his talisman himself.

Arsenal visit Stamford Bridge six months on from dishing out a humiliating result to their London London rivals. Mikel Arteta's men head into the match below Chelsea, though, after a bruising run. The Gunners, in fact, are winless in three Premier League games having lost two of those.

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In Europe they suffered another blow, going down 1-0 to Inter on Wednesday. Balancing injury issues of their own as well as a testing week that has seen them travel to Preston, Newcastle, and Italy, the shorter journey to SW6 will be a welcome break from days on the road.

Chelsea will be focused on themselves in the buildup, though, and are wary that most of the good play produced over the last 14 months, not just this season, have come through Palmer. He is still a serious injury doubt for the game.

Here, football.london has the latest on his battle against fitness ahead of the game.

Return hint

Taking to Instagram, Palmer offered a brief peak behind the curtain of his attempts to recover in time for Sunday. He posted an image onto his story of his left leg in a wrap.

Far from confirming his spot at least in the matchday squad for Chelsea, it is a glimpse of what goes on for a professional athlete looking to get themselves ready for a big match. Chelsea have a training session planned for Saturday which will be the final chance for him to get some action out on the grass at Cobham ahead of the visit of Arsenal.

What has Maresca said?

Speaking after Chelsea's 8-0 Conference League win on Thursday, Maresca gave a cautious update on Palmer. He had been seen walking into the press room at Stamford Bridge, picking up dessert alongside Levi Colwill as both players sat out the game.

"He's better," Maresca said. "He's getting better. If he can walk and have dinner, that doesn't mean he is completely fit. He's getting better. Hopefully we can have him for the session at least on Saturday and then we can take a decision."

Palmer was unavailable for the big win over FC Noah having not been selected in the Conference League squad for the group phase whilst his load is managed. He didn't train with his teammates prior to the match either.

What happened?

Palmer was fouled late on last week against United after flicking the ball over Lisandro Martinez in the middle of the pitch. When running past the Argentine he received a nasty scrape above his left knee, feeling studs roll down his leg.

The 22-year-old completed the game with only a matter of minutes left but was in discomfort as he stayed on the floor after the challenge. Maresca explained afterwards that he had been nursing the injury in the dressing room with ice.