COLE Palmer is set to be fit to face Arsenal on Sunday – as Gunners boss Mikel Arteta said “we have a plan for him”.
Palmer injured his knee in the 1-1 draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford last weekend.
But Blues boss Enzo Maresca gave a positive update in his pre-match press conference.
Maresca said: “He’s getting better. [Just because] he can walk and have dinner it doesn’t mean he is completely fit, but we still have two days to prepare the game.
“Hopefully we can have him for the session at least on Saturday and then we’ll take a decision.”
Arteta was asked about trying to curb Plamer’s influence.
“That’s a question that all the managers in the league have had and he’s still managed to impact games,” Arteta said. “We will have a plan for Cole and all their threats, and to exploit their weaknesses.”
Arsenal got a boost of their own this week as captain Martin Odegaard returned after being out since August when he came on in the 89th minute of the 1-0 Champions Leaugue defeat to Inter Milan on Wednesday.
“It’s about the collective and everybody taking ownership,” Arteta said. “Certainly having a player like Martin helps because he has shown what an impact he has over the last four, five years.
“Let’s see how he goes, how he trains tomorrow. He’s available, he’s fit, then we make the decision.”
“He’s always very close and active with the team. He knows his role and responsibility. It is different but the team had no issues at all.”
