Chelsea's Palmer Sidelined in Freak Home Accident
Chelsea and England forward, Cole Palmer, is set for another frustrating spell on the sidelines after suffering a fractured toe in a domestic accident. The club's coach, Enzo Maresca, confirmed the unfortunate news on Friday, revealing that the 23-year-old will miss three crucial fixtures.
Palmer, who had only just returned to training after recovering from a two-month groin injury, apparently stubbed his toe on a door at night. This new setback means he will be unavailable for Saturday's Premier League trip to Burnley, the high-stakes Champions League home game against Barcelona on Tuesday, and the league clash with leaders Arsenal next weekend.
Maresca Confirms Blow for Chelsea
Addressing the media, Maresca was unequivocal about the player's absence. "He is probably not available for tomorrow for sure, Barcelona for sure or Arsenal for sure," the manager stated. He described the incident as an accident at home but sought to downplay the long-term severity, adding, "it is nothing important — but he won’t be back in the next week."
This injury is a significant blow for Chelsea, as Palmer has proven to be a key player. He was instrumental in the club's Club World Cup final victory against Paris Saint-Germain in July, scoring twice. His form is also vital for the England squad ahead of next year's World Cup.
Arsenal's Defensive Rock Gabriel Also Ruled Out
In a parallel development that shakes up the Premier League title race, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta also delivered bad news on Friday. He confirmed that Brazilian defender Gabriel Magalhaes will be out of action for "weeks" after picking up a thigh injury while on international duty.
The centre-back was hurt during Brazil's 2-0 friendly win over Senegal at the Emirates Stadium last weekend. Gabriel has been an ever-present in a formidable Arsenal back line that has conceded just five goals in 11 Premier League games this season.
"Gabi unfortunately picked up an injury with the Brazilian national team and he’s going to be out for weeks," a disappointed Arteta said. "It’s clearly a blow because he’s our leader in our back line." The manager mentioned that the club will have a clearer timeline after another scan next Wednesday.
Arteta acknowledged the difficulty of replacing Gabriel's specific qualities, such as his leadership and defensive presence, but expressed confidence in his squad's depth. Players like Piero Hincapie and Cristhian Mosquera are in contention to step up for the crucial North London derby against Tottenham on Sunday.
