Arsenal vs Chelsea: Why did Cole Palmer not Play in the London Derby Today? When will he Return?

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Chelsea forward Cole Palmer is missing from the squad for today’s Premier League clash against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in London.

Despite being Chelsea’s top scorer, Palmer will not feature for the West London side today. However, despite scoring 14 goals in 28 games this season, he has gone seven league matches without finding the net.

Arsenal vs Chelsea: Why did Cole Palmer not play?

Manager Enzo Maresca revealed that Palmer suffered "a very small problem" during training, leading to his absence from this crucial match. Maresca expects Palmer to return after the upcoming international break.

In his pre-match interview, Maresca explained, “Unfortunately, yesterday he had a very small problem. We think, after the international break, he will be back with us.”

“He had an injury yesterday during the session. It was a very light session. That’s why we think it is nothing important. But we wait and the feeling is he will be back after the next international break," Maresca added.

Amid Palmer's absence, Chelsea suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat at Arsenal courtesy of Mikel Merino's solitary goal.

Earlier this week, Palmer was also dealing with illness, limiting his role in Thursday’s Conference League game against Copenhagen, where he started on the bench.

When will Cole Palmer Return?

Despite these issues, Palmer was selected for Thomas Tuchel's England squad on Friday. However, it remains uncertain whether he will feature in the March internationals, with his fitness being closely monitored. Chelsea boss Enzo Marseca said before the Arsenal match that the former Man City player will be fit by next week, which means he is likely to feature for the Three Lions in the upcoming international week.

Palmer has been a key performer for the Blues all season. The 22-year-old has so far netted 14 goals and has 6 assists in the Premier League this season. Since his move from Manchester City in 2023, the youngster has been a revelation for the Blues and will be aiming to continue his prowess till the end of this season.