By Seyi Babalola
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has left Cole Palmer out of his team for Sunday’s Premier League match at Arsenal.
The 22-year-old is thought to have a strained hamstring.
A win at the Emirates against their London rivals would secure fourth place in the Premier League rankings and strengthen the Blues’ chances of qualifying for the Champions League next season.
But Maresca has opted not to risk his talisman in the game.
Palmer played in the second half of the Blues’ 1-0 home triumph over FC Copenhagen in the Conference League round of 16.
However, he has not scored in ten games and just missed his first penalty in a 1-0 home win over Leicester City.
Maresca has, however, returned goalkeeper Robert Sanchez to the starting lineup, after Filip Jorgensen started against Copenhagen.