Mikel Arteta has revealed that Declan Rice has not travelled for Wednesday's Champions League clash with Inter Milan due to an injury he sustained in the weekend's 1-0 Premier League loss to Newcastle United.
The England international was surprisingly absent from the team's practice session before the Gunners flew out to Italy, instead following an individualised training programme at London Colney.
Rice was then confirmed to be missing the journey to Milan for Wednesday's European blockbuster, sparking fears that the £105m midfielder would be set for a spell on the sidelines with an injury.
Rice was on the field for the full 90 minutes at St James' Park on Saturday, but Arteta revealed in his pre-game press conference that the 25-year-old had picked up an unspecified problem in the loss to the Magpies and is an early doubt for the clash with Chelsea on Sunday.
"Declan unfortunately picked an injury against Newcastle. He was able to finish and he wasn't feeling good the last few days. We'll have to assess him on Thursday and see if he's ready for Chelsea," Arteta told the press.
Could Martin Odegaard start against Inter Milan?
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While Rice will not be seen on the San Siro pitch, Martin Odegaard could be, as Arsenal's captain and creator-in-chief made his return to full training on Tuesday following nearly two months out with an ankle injury.
The Norway international travelled with the squad to Italy and has a chance of making his comeback against the Serie A champions, although Arteta refused to guarantee his involvement.
"The positive news, Martin it's great to have him back. He trained with us first time today. He's a bit earlier than expected. But it's great to have him here and we will decide if we use him tomorrow," Arteta added.
From current Arsenal midfielders to former Gunners lynchpins, the North London giants return to action in midweek a couple of days on from the shock resignation of sporting director Edu after a five-year spell at the Emirates.
The 2003-04 Invincible is reportedly poised to join Evangelos Marinakis's group of clubs, which includes Nottingham Forest, Olympiacos and Rio Ave, and Arteta had nothing but kind words for one of his closest allies in North London.
Arteta reacts to shock Edu Arsenal exit
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"Everything happened very quickly. I loved working with him, I really enjoyed being alongside him in this incredible journey. I'm very grateful for everything he's done for me and the football club," Arteta said.
"I think we both had this special chemistry working together. I'm very blessed that he's been part of my life managing this club.
He's had an amazing opportunity now to do something else in a different role. He feels that's best for him. We have to respect that. From that bottom of my heart I wish the best for him.
"We have a very strong leadership team and we're not going to stop right now. The passion to fulfil; this journey is not going to stop. That means opportunities for someone else. We say thank you and we have to move on."
Arsenal and Inter have both accrued seven points from their first three Champions League games of the 2024-25 campaign and are reuniting for the first time since the 2003-04 tournament, where the Italian side won 3-0 at Highbury before Arsene Wenger's side dismantled Inter 5-1 at San Siro.
Ben Knapton
