Chelsea vs Arsenal early team news hint dropped amid nervy Cole Palmer injury wait

Enzo Fernandez has left a hint that he will be involved in Chelsea's Sunday afternoon crunch match with Arsenal. The midfielder has been left to make do with substitute appearances of late in the Premier League.

Having started the season as a first-choice, often operating next to Moises Caicedo, sometimes accompanied by Romeo Lavia, Fernandez has dropped to the bench.

Enzo Maresca has shown via his selection for Conference League and Carabao Cup games that there is a clear hierarchy and set XI for what are the so-called 'bigger' and 'smaller' fixtures.

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His last start in the league came before the October international break. However, as Maresca faces the possibility of facing Arsenal without Cole Palmer - who is a serious injury doubt - Fernandez is one of the players who could cover for him.

Nominally a right-winger last season, Palmer is now being deployed centrally under Maresca, even picking up spaces deeper as more of a No.8 at times. That is a job Fernandez himself is attuned to.

Fernandez has also been used higher up, coming in as a No.10 as well.

Posting online ahead of the game, Fernandez uploaded a pre-match promotional graphic of himself, some edited images, and details of kick off. Although it far from states he is going to be starting - and therefore Palmer would unlikely not be - it does go pretty close to announcing he will be involved in some way at least.

That much is not surprising given how he remains a key part of the squad. Should there be bad news to come out on the Palmer front, then Fernandez would be in line to take his place.

Noni Madueke has also posted onto his Instagram story ahead of the game. His spot is more at threat from Pedro Neto than Palmer, with his fellow winger beginning to get the nod on the left over Jadon Sancho - who has been out with illness, injury, and due to loan rules.