Chelsea-Arsenal lineups confirmed as Cole Palmer, Declan Rice decisions made

Cole Palmer has been passed fit to start for Chelsea in their Premier League London derby with Arsenal at Stamford Bridge.

The former Manchester City product was a doubt for the visit of the Gunners after being the victim of a heavy challenge from Lisandro Martinez in last weekend's 1-1 draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford.

However, after Enzo Maresca delivered a positive update on his fitness in midweek, Palmer has been given the green light to start in his favoured number 10 role as part of an unchanged forward line.

The Blues manager has made just the one change to the side that drew with the Red Devils last weekend, as Marc Cucurella is preferred to Reece James at left-back, forcing the Chelsea captain to take his seat on the bench.

There is still no Jadon Sancho for Chelsea owing to his recent knock and illness, so Pedro Neto continues on the left-hand side of the attack, while Romeo Lavia gets the nod over Enzo Fernandez in midfield again.

In addition to Chelsea's boost over Palmer's fitness, Arsenal have been handed multiple pieces of good news for the derby, as captain Martin Odegaard has been given the green light to start.

Arsenal handed multiple injury boosts for Chelsea game

The Gunners captain made his first appearance since August in midweek, coming off the bench for the final few moments of Arsenal's 1-0 loss to Inter Milan in the Champions League after recovering from an ankle injury.

Mikel Arteta stressed at his pre-game press conference that Odegaard was fit to start Sunday's game, and true enough, he has made the first XI and demotes the under-performing Leandro Trossard to the bench.

In addition, former Chelsea product Declan Rice is back in the starting lineup following a reported broken toe, and Kai Havertz leads the line against his former team despite a nasty head injury in midweek.

With Rice joining Odegaard and Thomas Partey in a first-choice midfield, Mikel Merino - who only lasted 45 minutes at San Siro after feeling under the weather before the game - drops out of the visitors' XI.

As expected, Jurrien Timber continues at left-back with none of Riccardo Calafiori, Takehiro Tomiyasu or Kieran Tierney available, as Ben White starts on the right-hand side of the rearguard.

Arsenal start the day one place below Chelsea in the Premier League table, but the Blues are only above their London rivals courtesy of a superior goal difference.

Chelsea starting lineup: Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella; Lavia, Caicedo; Madueke, Palmer, Neto; Jackson Subs: Jorgensen, Badiashile, Tosin, Veiga, James, Enzo, Mudryk, Felix, Nkunku

Arsenal starting lineup: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli Subs: Neto, Zinchenko, Lewis-Skelly, Kiwior, Jorginho, Merino, Nwaneri, Trossard, Jesus