Chelsea handed huge Cole Palmer injury boost ahead of Arsenal showdown

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Evening Standard

·28 November 2025

Chelsea handed huge Cole Palmer injury boost ahead of Arsenal showdown

England international is in line to face London rivals

Cole Palmer is fit for Sunday’s London derby with Arsenal in a major injury boost for Chelsea.

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Palmer has been in first-team training all week but while Tuesday’s 3-0 win over Barcelona was always going to come too early for the Englishman’s return after more than two months out, there was always a possibility he would be fit in time to feature at Stamford Bridge on Sunday against the league leaders.

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca revealed in a press conference on Friday afternoon that the attacking midfielder is back in contention and will be able to feature against Arsenal, and could start.

Palmer has not played for the Blues since September 20 due to his persistent groin issue and his return was further delayed when he accidentally stubbed the little toe on his left foot on a door at his home on Wednesday last week, ruling him out of the Burnley and Barcelona matches and initially throwing into jeopardy his involvement against Mikel Arteta’s side.

To their credit, Chelsea have won 12 of 15 matches without Palmer this season and sit second in the Premier League table ahead of Sunday’s clash of first versus second.

Palmer, who has scored two goals in four Chelsea appearances in all competitions this season, has been training this week with a specially modified boot which is adapted to cater for his fractured toe.

Speaking on Friday, Maresca said: "He is available for both [playing and starting].

"His team-mates are happy, we are happy, and the most important thing is that Cole is happy."

There was more positive news for Maresca on Friday morning as he confirmed that summer signing Dario Essugo trained with the first team for the first time following his thigh injury.

The Portuguese midfielder has been out since having surgery back in September, and the Chelsea head coach revealed that he was back on the grass.

“Dario Essugo was in the session this morning which was good," Maresca added to his Palmer update.