Cole Palmer is likely to MISS Chelsea's trip to Arsenal due to illness, reveals Mauricio Pochettino - with Ben Chilwell and Malo Gusto also doubts

dailymail.co.uk [1] 0 تعليق 0 ارسل طباعة تبليغ حذف
  • Cole Palmer has shone for Chelsea this season, scoring 20 Premier League goals
  • But Palmer is likely to miss their game with Arsenal on Tuesday due to illness
  • Questioning Stuart Attwell’s integrity is a disgrace for Nottingham Forest - Listen to the It's All Kicking Off podcast 

Cole Palmer is a doubt for Chelsea's visit to Arsenal on Tuesday with Mauricio Pochettino confirming the Premier League's joint-top scorer is likely to miss the game at the Emirates Stadium with illness.

The 21-year-old did not train on Monday following his side's FA Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester City on Saturday, a loss that left them needing to secure a top-seven finish in the league if they are to end their year-long absence from European competition.

The England international has been the standout player of an indifferent season for Chelsea, with seven goals in the team's last two home games having rocketed him to the top of the scoring charts alongside City striker Erling Haaland.

He has frequently been the decisive factor when the team have performed well, helping Pochettino's side throw off the creative inertia that blunted their attack last season and in the early weeks of the current campaign.

A win against Mikel Arteta's title-chasers would put the Argentinian's side level on points with sixth-placed Newcastle, with a top-six finish likely to be enough for a Europa League berth.

Cole Palmer is likely to miss Chelsea's clash with Arsenal on Tuesday evening due to illness

Cole Palmer is likely to miss Chelsea's clash with Arsenal on Tuesday evening due to illness

Cole Palmer is likely to miss Chelsea's clash with Arsenal on Tuesday evening due to illness

Palmer has been Chelsea's talisman this season, netting 20 goals in the Premier League

Palmer has been Chelsea's talisman this season, netting 20 goals in the Premier League

Blues defenders Ben Chilwell and Malo Gusto are also doubts for the game at the Emirates

Blues defenders Ben Chilwell and Malo Gusto are also doubts for the game at the Emirates

However, the size of their task - already a daunting one with Arsenal on a run of 11 league wins in their last 13 - grew on Monday with the fear that Palmer will likely miss out, while full-backs Ben Chilwell and Malo Gusto are also doubts.

'We need to assess (Tuesday) morning,' said Pochettino of Palmer's chances. 'Today, no, I don't believe he can be involved. Even if he will be good tomorrow, he may not be in a condition to play.

'With and without him, we believe that we can win. The most important thing is the collective. Of course he's an important part of the team. He's doing fantastic for us. But we have plenty of players that can perform and do the job.'

Pochettino defended the contributions of striker Nicolas Jackson on his debut season for the club, after he missed multiple opportunities against City to put Chelsea in the final.

The 22-year-old has improved significantly in recent weeks after struggling in the aftermath of his £32million summer move from Villarreal but three times at Wembley he failed to make the most of clear openings.

Pochettino has been forced to rely on the player - who has scored 10 goals in the league - far more than the club had intended, with fellow signing Christopher Nkunku having been limited by injury to a handful of appearances since joining from RB Leipzig.

Mauricio Pochettino insisted Chelsea could still win against Arsenal despite Palmer's absence

Mauricio Pochettino insisted Chelsea could still win against Arsenal despite Palmer's absence 

Pochettino also defended the contributions of striker Nicolas Jackson after he missed multiple opportunities against Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final on Saturday at Wembley

Pochettino also defended the contributions of striker Nicolas Jackson after he missed multiple opportunities against Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final on Saturday at Wembley

'First season is always difficult but more when you are a striker and you have to perform and score goals. Everyone expects with every single touch to score,' Pochettino added. 'He's our main striker, the only striker we have fit.

'He's doing fantastic. He's doing an amazing job for the team; running, scoring goals, giving assists. His first season, a young guy, came in from Spain, even with not too much experience there.

'If we want the player to match the iconic players here, if we compare him with Drogba, obviously he's going to lose.

'But he's going to have all my support. Even if he doesn't score, the way that he's fighting for the club and his team-mates, he's producing chances. He needs time to improve. He'll be better next season for sure, no doubt about that.'

Read more:

اخلاء مسئولية! : هذا المحتوى لم يتم انشائة او استضافته بواسطة موقع اخبار الكورة و اي مسؤلية قانونية تقع على عاتق الموقع مصدر الخبر : dailymail.co.uk [1] , يتم جمع الاخبار عن طريق خدمة ال RSS المتاحة مجانا للجمهور من المصدر : dailymail.co.uk [1] مع الحفظ على حقوق الملكية الخاصة بمصدر الخبر.

أخبار ذات صلة

0 تعليق