International- Reuters reported that Chelsea might have to face Premier League leaders Arsenal on Tuesday without their top scorer, Cole Palmer, who is struggling to recover from an illness, according to manager Mauricio Pochettino.
Pochettino stated in a press conference on Monday that Palmer is unlikely to play today and his availability for tomorrow’s match remains uncertain. Even if he improves by tomorrow, he may not be fit enough to participate. Palmer, who played in Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final defeat against Manchester City, has been a standout performer in what has been a challenging debut season for Pochettino at Stamford Bridge. Palmer, a former Manchester City player, shares the title of top scorer in the Premier League this season with 20 goals, alongside City’s Erling Haaland.
His potential absence would be a setback for Chelsea as they aim to keep their hopes of European qualification alive.
Conversely, it would be a significant advantage for Arsenal in their pursuit of their first league title in two decades.
Additionally, defenders Malo Gusto and Ben Chilwell are uncertain for the derby match, as per Pochettino.
Chelsea currently sits in ninth place in the league standings with 47 points from 31 matches, trailing seventh-placed Manchester United by three points but with a game in hand. While qualifying for European competition would provide some consolation for Chelsea, Pochettino’s primary focus is on narrowing the gap with Arsenal.
He expressed confidence in the team’s ability to reach the same level as Arsenal, emphasizing the importance of belief and positivity in football. Reflecting on their previous encounter this season, where Chelsea drew 2-2 with Arsenal despite leading 2-0, Pochettino noted that the circumstances are different now as the season nears its conclusion.
He stressed the importance of winning matches like this to improve their position in the league table, especially considering they are a few games behind the teams above them. The ultimate goal is to secure European competition for the next season.
