Declan Rice misses Arsenal training following injury update on Martin Odegaard

Arsenal have been handed an injury scare ahead of their Champions League match against Inter Milan after Declan Rice missed training on Tuesday.

Rice played the full 90 minutes as the Gunners were beaten 1-0 by Newcastle in the Premier League in Saturday's early kick-off. But the key midfielder was absent from the group which trained at London Colney on Tuesday morning ahead of the flight to Italy.

It is currently unclear why Rice was not able to join his team-mates on the pitch. Arsenal play Inter Milan on Wednesday night at the San Siro and Mikel Arteta will no doubt be asked about Rice's fitness when he faces the press on Tuesday evening.

The blow could diminish the excitement at finally welcoming captain Martin Odegaard back to full training. The Norwegian has been sorely missed since picking up an injury on international duty with Norway on September 9, but is now eyeing a return after missing 12 matches in all competitions.

That return might not take long, with Arteta explaining the club's approach in a press conference before the trip to St James' Park. "Now is the stage when he’s going to start to do certain work with us," he said.

"Let’s see if he deals with pain if physically he’s able to compete. With the work he’s put in, I would be surprised if when he’s back training with us we don’t say he’s ready."

Arsenal will also be without defenders Riccardo Calafiori and Takehiro Tomiyasu for Wednesday's 8pm kick-off due to injury. But it is the potential absence of Rice which is particularly concerning.

The England star has been a near ever-present for Arsenal this season, missing just two games - one through suspension and one as a precautionary rest. He was heavily involved in the Newcastle defeat, missing Arsenal's best chance to equalise, and would be a big miss in Milan.

Arsenal are unbeaten in the Champions League so far this season and are yet to concede, having beaten Paris Saint-Germain and Shakhtar Donetsk and drawn 0-0 with Atalanta. They are level on seven points with Inter, who have beaten Young Boys and Red Star Belgrade without coneding after a goalless draw with Manchester City.