Chelsea vs Arsenal

[Reddish-Blue 2,588]

11 hours ago, Special Juan said:

The pundits are bigging Arsenal up and some even saying they are more or less unbeatable.

This is perfect, I love this because I know for a fact if we play like we did Tuesday we can beat anyone.

I fancy us here 2-1 or 2-0

Expecting 2-1 to them, Noni getting a goal to prove a point

[NikkiCFC 8,450]

11 hours ago, Pizy said:

I’m going to have to see the XI Maresca goes with before I decide whether I think we can win or not. This is definitely not a Garnacho game bevause he won’t have the acres of space to run into and would be aggressively man marked by Timber. Likewise, Neto up top won’t work like it did against Barca either. 

I’d probably go Neto left, Estevão right, with Delap in front of João Pedro. Lots of legs, lots of pressing, Don’t think we can play João Pedro on his own up top against Saliba and whoever they partner him with. He’ll get swarmed and bullied out of the game. Delap with his big frame can at least occupy them and free up space for the others

2 years ago we completely outplayed them with Palmer, Sterling and Mudryk front 3.

[NikkiCFC 8,450]

Good news our lucky charm Taylor is ref. 

[Laylabelle 9,574]

15 hours ago, NikkiCFC said:

2 years ago we completely outplayed them with Palmer, Sterling and Mudryk front 3.

So frutating not to win that one.Been a while since we have! 5 losses.. 2 draws since our last win..surely tommrow we can change it! 

Failing that bring Drogba back!

[mkh 644]

Estevao is unlikely to start tomorrow with Maresca carefully managing his workload.

(@guardian_sport) 

[Vesper 30,495]

Cole Palmer is ‘available’ for Chelsea vs Arsenal after 13 games out, Enzo Maresca says

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6844907/2025/11/28/cole-palmer-injury-news-Chelsea-maresca/

 

Enzo Maresca has admitted everyone at Chelsea is excited at the prospect of Cole Palmer’s return after confirming he is ready to start against Arsenal on Sunday.

Palmer has not played for Chelsea since limping off against Manchester United in September, mainly due to a groin injury, but his comeback was also delayed by fracturing a toe in his left foot last week.

The England international has missed 13 games in all and head coach Maresca mentioned last Friday that he would not be ready to face Arsenal.

But today, however, he confirmed: “He’s available. Everyone is happy. The team-mates are happy. We are all happy and the most important thing is that Cole is happy because at the end, a football player, they want to play games and make sessions every day.

“What kind of contribution do I expect? A lot, a lot. He is probably our best player. We are happy that he is back. Now we need to give him time to be 100 per cent fit. He has done fantastic in the past and no doubt he is going to do very well for this club in the future.”

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Estevao Willian has begun to star in Palmer’s absence with his fine goal in the 3-0 win against Barcelona making him just the third player to score in his first three Champions League games.

Asked about the prospect of opposition defenders worrying about the prospect of the duo soon being able to combine their talents together, Maresca replied: “They can play together. It depends on which team, it depends a little bit on the game plan, but for sure they are excited.

“The fans are excited to watch both together. We are also excited, thinking that at the end we need always a balance between the two phases.”

Chelsea go into the match against Arsenal with the chance to close the gap to the league leaders to three points with a victory. Maresca ruled out Chelsea’s chances of competing for the title 12 months ago when they had also climbed to second in the table. But while he insists it is too early to say they can challenge for the crown this time around, he does believe they are better equipped to do so than last year.

He added: “I think for sure it’s different compared to one year ago. It’s because we spent one more year together. We went through moments where we can learn from that moment. Then again, for me it’s very early. We are still at the end of November, December. So it’s very early and it’s important to be where we are now in March, April and then we’ll see.”

Chelsea have also been handed a boost with the news that midfielder Dario Essugo has returned to training. He has been ruled out since early September after having surgery on a thigh injury.