Arsenal vs Chelsea – Team News: Chelsea talisman out of squad | OneFootball

Chelsea face Arsenal at Stamford Bridge in just under an hour, and the teams are in!

The Blues have made a few changes, but one stands out above all others – Cole Palmer is not in the squad at all.

At the back Robert Sanchez is in goal again, with Wesley Fofana coming back into the team at right back, Benoit Badiashile and Levi Colwill at centre back and Marc Cucurella on the left.

That means Reece James is in midfield for today’s game – not a move that everyone loves, but certainly in keeping with what Enzo Maresca has said about his plans for the captain.

Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo complete the midfield setup ahead of him. That’s a really solid trio that should help us take on Arsenal’s dominant physical team.

Christopher Nkunku is in the team to replace Palmer, and this is a huge game for him to shine in the England star’s absence. Pedro Neto continues to lead the line, with Jadon Sancho playing on the opposite side to Nkunku.

Here are the full team line-ups for Arsenal vs Chelsea (kick off at 15:00 GMT)

CHELSEA:

We’re not sure what the story with Palmer is – the fact that he’s not in the squad at all indicates he may have some kind of injury, perhaps just accumulated fatigue from a long season. Either way, a break from action will hopefully help him recover some form.

This reinforced midfield setup should help us stay in the game, but we’re not sure where the goals are coming from. Nkunku has only really been able to score in the Conference League, Neto is not exactly Erling Haaland, and Sancho’s last goal was in early December.

Looking to the bench, There’s just nobody there you can count on to find the net. There are two goalkeepers, 3 defenders, two central midfielders and a teenage winger.