Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has challenged the view that Moises Caicedo and Declan Rice are the sole outstanding midfielders in the Premier League. He insists several other players possess comparable quality.

Maresca shared these thoughts with journalists ahead of Chelsea’s home fixture against Arsenal this Sunday. The Italian tactician highlighted Manchester City’s Rodri, Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson, and Newcastle United’s Bruno Guimaraes as players who match the quality brought by Caicedo and Rice.

Responding to a question about Rice and Caicedo being the league’s best, Maresca stated, “I think the Premier League is full of good players, very good midfielders.”

He added, “As you said, Moises, Declan, Rodri from Manchester City, Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest, [Bruno] Guimaraes from Newcastle.”

His comments came after Arsenal legend Paul Merson recently named Caicedo and Rice as the two best midfielders in world football currently.

Cole Palmer Returns for Arsenal Clash

In a significant boost for Chelsea, Cole Palmer is fit to return for the weekend clash. The England international suffered a fractured toe in an unusual incident last week. He stubbed it on a door, which sidelined him for victories over Burnley and Barcelona.

“He is available to start,” Enzo Maresca confirmed. “Everyone is happy, the teammates are happy, we are all happy.”

Maresca emphasized Palmer’s importance: “The most important thing is Cole is happy because a footballer wants to play games and attend sessions every day. He is our best player. We are happy he is back.”

“We need to give him time to be 100% fit. He has done fantastically in the past. No doubt he is going to do very well for this club in the future,” Maresca added.

Earlier in the week, Maresca had suggested that Sunday’s match might come too soon for the 23-year-old. His return provides a welcome lift for a Chelsea side currently sitting second, behind Arsenal.

A win at Stamford Bridge would close the gap at the top of the table to just three points. Palmer last featured in the 2-1 defeat at Manchester United on September 20.

Chelsea has played 13 matches across all competitions since then. They have won ten, lost two, and drawn one. Palmer joined Stamford Bridge from Manchester City for an initial fee of £40 million in September 2023. He has finished as the team’s top scorer in each of the last two Premier League seasons.