Chelsea v Arsenal final Premier League injury news with 8 out and 1 doubt for Stamford Bridge clashplaceholder image
Chelsea v Arsenal final Premier League injury news with 8 out and 1 doubt for Stamford Bridge clash | Getty Images
Chelsea host Arsenal in a key Premier League encounter at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca insists that it is too early for Premier League title talk - regardless of the outcome when his side host Arsenal on Sunday afternoon at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues are six points behind the Gunners but could close that gap to three points with a win. Both sides have been in decent form of late but Mikel Arteta’s side have been the stand-out team in the first three months of the campaign.
A win for Chelsea would send out a huge statement but a Gunners victory could all-but put the Blues out of the title race.
"For sure is different to one year ago. We spend one more year together. We went through a moment where we can learn from that moment. But it is still very early. Important to be where we are now in March, April and then we will see,” said Maresca.
Looking ahead to the game, Arteta said: “After beating Spurs at home, then we have to make a statement against Bayern Munich, we’ve done that and now we have to go to the next one. That’s where we are, we knew the importance of the week, not only that, but what is coming after three days is going to be exactly the same, nothing is going to change. But we are super motivated for the game.”
Arsenal injury news v Chelsea
The Gunners will be without four players for the game while Leandro Trossard is a doubt after being forced off against Bayern Munich in midweek. However, Arteta insists there is a chance of him playing.
Gabriel was injured on international duty with Brazil and has missed the last two games. He is still expected to be out for a little while yet. An update from Arteta revealed: “I think he’s evolving really, really well. We have to wait for the scan a little bit longer to be more precise in terms of the timings.
“I’m quite confident, especially the way Gabi takes every injury and the way he’s going to push everybody that it’s not going to be that long.”
Gabriel Jesus is getting back to full fitness but not quite ready for a return to action.
Viktor Gyokeres has not played since picking up a hamstring injury against Burnley while Kai Havertz has not featured since undergoing surgery on a knee problem back in August.
Arteta provided a joint update on the forward pair, stating: “They are getting closer and closer, so we are very positive with both of them. The good thing is that now we find another option.
“We lost a player, two or three, we lost at some point six players in the front line, and the team continued to win and be very, very efficient, so I think that's very positive.”
Chelsea injury news v Arsenal
The big news for Chelsea is that Cole Palmer is back fit. Maresca said in his pre-match press conference: "He is our best player, we are happy he is back. We need to give him time to be 100% fit. He has done fantastic in the past and no doubt he is going to do very good for this club in the future."
Dario Essugo is back in training but not quite ready for a return to full action. Romeo Lavia and Levi Colwill remain out while Mykhailo Mudryk is suspended.
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