Cole Palmer is out: Chelsea talisman surprisingly misses trip to London rivals Arsenal as Blues seek to avenge 5-0 loss at Emirates Stadium last season

Cole Palmer has been left out of Chelsea's matchday squad to take on Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday.

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Article continues below

Article continues below

• Blues travel to Gunners
• Palmer unexpectedly absent
• Chelsea lost 5-0 at Emirates last year

• Table of Contents

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Palmer was expected to be involved for the Blues' trip across London to the Emirates Stadium this weekend, but his name was not on the team-sheet when the lineups were announced 75 minutes before their 13:30 GMT kick-off. Instead, head coach Enzo Maresca is expected to use Enzo Fernandez in an advanced midfield role, with Reece James and Moises Caicedo in deeper positions.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  This is the second-season running that Palmer has missed out on Chelsea's trip to Arsenal, having sat out last year's visit due to a cold. The Blues, then managed by current USMNT boss Mauricio Pochettino, were thrashed 5-0 on that occasion.

• WHAT ENZO MARESCA SAID

  Explaining Palmer's absence, Blues boss Maresca said: "He's not in the toilet, for sure! He had, or as we know, last week some problems [with illness]. And unfortunately yesterday he had a very small problem. We think, after the international break, he will be back with us.

  "He had an injury yesterday during the session. It was a very light session. That's why we think it is nothing important. But we wait and the feeling is he will be back after the next international break."

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Palmer is currently on a run of 10 games without a goal and uncharacteristically missed a penalty in last week's win against Leicester City. However, he will have to wait a few more weeks to end that drought.