Enzo Maresca will ring in the changes when Chelsea and Arsenal go head-to-head at Stamford Bridge on Sunday evening.
Chelsea will aim to continue the solid start to the 2024/25 season and inflict more misery on Arsenal when the two London rivals lock horns at Stamford Bridge on Sunday evening. Enzo Maresca does not have any new injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Jadon Sancho’s availability remains a mystery, with the English international recovering from an illness and a knock. In addition, Omari Kellyman remains a long-term absentee due to a hamstring injury that has troubled him for several weeks.
Meanwhile, Maresca has been sweating over the fitness of Cole Palmer, who picked up a knock last weekend against Manchester United. The Italian tactician provided a fitness update on the English international during his pre-match press conference.
The Chelsea manager said, “Cole is getting better, but because he can walk and have dinner doesn’t mean he is completely fit. He is getting better and we still have two days to prepare for the game. Hopefully, we can have him for a session – at least on Saturday – and then we take a decision.”
Maresca also spoke about his squad’s fitness situation, saying, “At this moment, we are quite lucky we don’t have injuries, so we have 24 or 25 players available and we can choose. The way we have tried to do things since we started the season means we protect players, as it’s one thing to play three matches a week and it’s another to play one.”
Palmer should return to the starting lineup, considering the international break can give him nearly two weeks off if he declares himself unavailable. Nicolas Jackson will lead the line for Chelsea against Arsenal, with Pedro Neto and Noni Madueke being the two wide attackers.
As for the midfield unit, Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia will pair up in the double pivot, with Enzo Fernandez missing out. The backline should see Wesley Fofana and Levi Colwill form the central defensive partnership, with Reece James and Malo Gusto being the two full-backs. Finally, there is no looking past Robert Sanchez between the sticks.
Predicted Chelsea XI: Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, James; Caicedo, Lavia; Madueke, Palmer, Neto; Jackson
