Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca says his squad has received a major boost ahead of their high-stakes Premier League fixture against Arsenal, confirming that star playmaker Cole Palmer is fully available for selection.
Speaking to reporters before the London derby on Sunday, Maresca revealed that Palmer — who has been sidelined recently — has now returned to full training and could feature from the start.
“Yes, Cole is available for both to play and to start,” the Chelsea manager said.
Maresca added that the overall condition of his squad has improved following their friendly against Barcelona, highlighting another positive update from the treatment room.
“We are looking okay after Barcelona. Dario Essugo also took part in the session this morning, which is good news too.”
Palmer’s return has lifted spirits within the club, with Maresca stressing just how influential the young attacker is to Chelsea’s ambitions.
“Having Cole back is good news, and everyone is happy,” he noted. “The fans are happy, his team-mates are happy, and the most important thing is that Cole is happy to be back. Players want to play games, so him being back is a big moment.”
Maresca praised Palmer’s impact since joining the club and expressed confidence that he will continue to produce standout performances once fully fit.
“He can help us a lot. He is arguably our best player, and we are happy he is back. Now we have 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 good things for this club in the future.”
The coach also addressed fan excitement around the possibility of Palmer linking up with rising Brazilian talent Estevão, confirming that the duo are capable of playing together in the same lineup.
“With Estevao? Yes, they can play together,” Maresca said. “It depends against which team and the game plan, but for sure, the fans are excited to watch both together. We are also excited, thinking at the end we always need balance between the two phases—on the ball and off the ball.”
Chelsea face Arsenal in what is expected to be one of their toughest tests of the season, and Palmer’s return could prove pivotal as the Blues look to maintain momentum under Maresca’s leadership.
Chelsea, after a massive win last Tuesday—beating Barcelona 3-0 in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League—are hoping to maintain their momentum as they face league leaders Arsenal. The Gunners top the league with 29 points, while Chelsea trails by six points.
