Why key Chelsea man Cole Palmer missed training before Arsenal showdown - explained

Chelsea announced earlier on Monday that Palmer was one of the players to miss first-team training at the Cobham Training Centre. The news could be concerning for Chelsea fans with the Blues set to take on Arsenal on Tuesday. The former Manchester City man is in fine form currently and his potential absence would be a major blow to Pochettino's side.

The club's official statement stated the 21-year-old did not participate in training not due to an injury but due to illness. Pochettino was asked about Palmer's availability for the London derby on Tuesday, and the Argentine refused to reveal the possibility of the player being available to play at The Emirates.

When speaking to the media, Pochettino said [via The Standard]: "We will see tomorrow. We need to assess tomorrow morning. Today, no. I don't believe he can be involved but we will assess him tomorrow morning. Even if he is good tomorrow, he may not be able to play."

The club also revealed that alongside Palmer, full-backs Malo Gusto and Ben Chilwell also missed training due to their specific knee injuries. Pochettino revealed that Gusto had picked up a little issue with his knee and Chilwell was still struggling with the injury he suffered during international duty with England.

Pochettino was asked about the duo's injuries and revealed [The Standard]: "Malo suffered a minor problem in his knee. I hope it is not a big issue. Chilly also, after the national team, has the same problem from the last few weeks."

Chelsea will be hoping for a timely recovery for Palmer with the Blues set to take on bitter rivals Arsenal on Tuesday, April 23 at the Emirates Stadium. If Palmer is unavailable, Pochettino will have to look for alternatives to replace his creativity and his scoring instinct in front of goal.