Mikel Arteta provides update on Declan Rice injury amid Martin Odegaard Arsenal return boost

Mikel Arteta has provided the latest on the fitness of Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League clash with Inter Milan

Rice was not involved as Arsenal train at the Sobha Realty Centre ahead of their trip to Italy

Now Arteta has provided further clarity on why Rice has not made the journey out to Milan.

“Declan unfortunately picked an injury against Newcastle,” Arteta said. “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.

“It was a knock. It’s a problem on ทางเข้า ufabet https://ufabet999.app his foot. He wasn’t comfortable to put his boots on. So at the moment he’s not fit.” Rice has been a huge player for Arsenal since his arrival last summer, and has played every minute of this season’s Champions League campaign. The blow of his absence has offset by the return of Martin Odegaard, however.

The Norwegian has travelled to Milan with the squad and Arteta refuse to rule out the possibility of him returning straight into the starting XI at the San Siro.

“The positive news, Martin it’s great to have him back,” Arteta said. “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.”

As well as Rice, Arsenal will be missing Riccardo Calafiori, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney from the their matchday squad in Milan. Youngsters Nathan Butler-Oyedeji and Josh Robinson have call into the first team to make up the numbers along with third choice goalkeeper Tommy Setford.