Cole Palmer is not part of the Chelsea squad to face Arsenal on Sunday.
The England international, 22, had started all of Chelsea’s previous 28 Premier League games so far this season.
Despite not scoring in seven league games, Palmer still tops the club’s goalscoring chart with 14. He has also laid on six assists.
Palmer was added to Chelsea’s Conference League squad for the knockout phase in February and came on to play 45 minutes of Thursday’s win over Copenhagen in the round of 16.
He was also named as part of Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad on Friday for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia.
In Palmer’s absence from his usual No.10 position, Enzo Fernandez may be deployed higher up with Reece James likely to start the game in the centre of midfield.
Elsewhere, Pedro Neto starts alongside Jadon Sancho and Christopher Nkunku in the attacking trio.
Chelsea start the day fourth in the Premier League and would close the gap to third-placed Nottingham Forest with a positive result at the Emirates Stadium.
Your Chelsea side today! 👊#CFC | #ARSCHE pic.twitter.com/G6f0CFtdI1
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) March 16, 2025
Chelsea squad vs. Arsenal
Starting XI: Sanchez, Fofana, Badiashile, Colwill, Cucurella, James, Caicedo, Neto, Fernandez, Sancho, Nkunku
Subs: Bettinelli, Jorgensen, Tosin, Chalobah, Acheampong, Gusto, Lavia, Dewsbury-Hall, George
(Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
