Chelsea are without star man Cole Palmer for tonight’s trip to Arsenal in the Premier League.

Palmer has failed to recover from an illness. Injured pair Ben Chilwell and Malo Gusto are also missing, as expected.

It’s a huge blow to Mauricio Pochettino’s side, who face another big test after losing to Manchester City in a FA Cup semi-final just three days ago.

Pochettino remains without the same seven players who were absent at Wembley.

Christopher Nkunku is nearing his return after participating in "partial team training" but tonight comes too soon. Reece James, Lesley Ugochukwu, Romeo Lavia, Robert Sanchez, and Wesley Fofana are also injured. 

Chelsea would have liked to rotate their line-up to face Arsenal in their bid to qualify for Europe, but Djordje Petrovic continues as goalkeeper behind a back four of Axel Disasi, Thiago Silva, Trevoh Chalobah and Marc Cucurella.  

The usual midfield three of Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez and Conor Gallagher remain, while Raheem Sterling is pushing to return to the front three ahead of Mykhailo Mudryk.

Chelsea XI: tbc

Subs: tbc

Predicted XI: Petrovic; Disasi, Silva, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, Gallagher, Fernandez; Madueke, Jackson, Mudryk

Injuries: Nkunku, James, Ugochukwu, Lavia, Sanchez, Fofana, Chilwell, Gusto

Doubts: Palmer

Time and date: 8pm BST tonight on Tuesday, April 23, 2024

Venue: Emirates Stadium, London

TV channel and live stream: TNT Sports