Chelsea’s Cole Palmer sent for knee scans after a harsh challenge from Lisandro Martinez in the 1-1 draw with Manchester United.
Martinez’s challenge on Palmer resulted in a yellow card, with no VAR intervention, leaving Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca unhappy as Palmer limped off with pain.
The Telegraph reports that Palmer will undergo scans to assess the injury ahead of the Arsenal clash, with Chelsea hoping for a quick recovery.
Chelsea is optimistic that Palmer has not suffered internal damage and aims for him to feature against Arsenal, pending scan results.
Former Premier League referee Keith Hackett criticized the decision not to show a red card for Martinez’s tackle.
Hackett wrote, “The type of tackle Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez unleashed on Chelsea’s Cole Palmer should be outlawed from football before a player is seriously injured.”
He added, “Referee Rob Jones probably concluded that there was insufficient force behind Martinez’s challenge to warrant a stronger sanction.”
“VAR should have asked the referee to review the incident on the pitch-side monitor,” Hackett emphasized.