Chelsea manager Graham Potter doesn’t think goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga will return to action before the World Cup.
Kepa suffered a foot injury during Chelsea’s Premier League game against Brighton & Hove Albion last week. The Spaniard had started for Chelsea in the match but was withdrawn at half-time due to injury.
The injury also saw Kepa miss Chelsea’s Champions League game against Dinamo Zagreb this week. The 28-year-old was not in the Chelsea squad when the Blues secured a 2-1 victory over the Croatian outfit.
Speaking at a news conference on Friday, Potter appeared to rule Kepa out until the World Cup, which starts on November 20.
Graham Potter provides update on Kepa Arrizabalaga’s injury ahead of Arsenal clash
Chelsea host the best Premier League players at Stamford Bridge in a Premier League game this weekend. Providing an update on Kepa’s injury before the game, Potter said. [via Football.London]: “Kepa, no. It’s his plantar fascia (foot), so I don’t think he’ll play before the World Cup.”
Potter also ruled out Carney Chukwuemeka for his game against Arsenal, with the Chelsea manager confirming the midfielder has a minor hamstring problem.
However, in good news for the Blues, Potter confirmed that Mateo Kovacic, who missed the game against Dinamo Zagreb, is in contention to face Arsenal.
Meanwhile, Chelsea have three games left before the winter break begins. They face Arsenal in the first of those three matches.
Chelsea currently sit sixth in the Premier League points table with 21 points from 12 games. Arsenal, meanwhile, sit top of the Premier League with 31 points from 12 games.
The Gunners have a 10-point lead over Chelsea. The Blues will then look to reduce the gap to Arsenal and avoid falling further down the points table. In the race for the top four, Chelsea are just three points behind Newcastle United in fourth place. The Magpies have 24 points but have played one more game than Chelsea in the league this season.
Meanwhile, the game between Chelsea and Arsenal kicks off at 5:30pm Indian Standard Time next Sunday.
Chelsea will then travel to the Etihad Stadium to face Manchester City in the third round of the EFL Cup. And his last game before the World Cup is against Newcastle United in the Premier League.
