Cole Palmer has been left out of the Chelsea team to face Arsenal on Sunday. He played the second half of Thursday night's Conference League last-16 second leg against FC Copenhagen.
The attacker suffered from illness last week in the narrow 1-0 win over Leicester City with Enzo Maresca revealing that he had diarrhea. Palmer also did not train until the day before facing Copenhagen.
It is suggested that Palmer is now struggling with a hamstring injury. Reece James, who also missed training at the start of the week, starts at the Emirates Stadium.
Palmer missed this fixture last season with illness. Mauricio Pochettino had called for his team to prove that they are not 'Cole Palmer FC.' Chelsea went on to lose 5-0 in a humiliation.
Chelsea will be looking to Pedro Neto, Jadon Sancho, and Christopher Nkunku to act as the replacement for Palmer. They start in attack whilst James looks likely to occupy a spot in midfield with Wesley Fofana at right-back.
Palmer is currently on a 10-game run without a goal and it is 17 since his last assist. He was brought on at half-time against Copenhagen in order to give the team a much-needed boost following a drab first 45.
On Friday, Palmer was named in Thomas Tuchel's first England squad for World Cup qualifiers against Latvia and Albania. His participation in those games is now in doubt.
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Chelsea flag prior the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Leg One match between Chelsea FC and Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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