Rice was also absent from the photographs Arsenal released of Martin Odegaard back in training, raising concerns about his fitness ahead of the crucial encounter, but the captain is with the squad.
Manager Mikel Arteta hinted that Rice’s absence might be precautionary, stating, “Declan unfortunately picked an injury against Newcastle United. He was able to finish, but he hasn’t been feeling good these last few days. We’ll have to assess him on Thursday to determine if he can feature against Chelsea.”
The Gunners are also without Riccardo Calafiori, who sustained a right knee injury during the clash against Shakhtar Donetsk. No specific return timeline for his returned has been confirmed by the club but it is expected he will be back in a matter of weeks rather than months.
Takehiro Tomiyasu continues to struggle with injury problems, with manager Arteta confirming a few weeks ago that the Japanese international has suffered a further setback. “We don’t know how long he’ll be out,” Arteta said. “It doesn’t look like a long-term issue, but we need to see how he reacts to the load on the pitch. He’s worked incredibly hard to get back, and now it’s frustrating for everyone that he has another problem.”
Odegaard, who has been recovering from an ankle ligament injury sustained in September while playing for Norway, has provided a positive update for the Gunners. The midfielder returned to full training ahead of the Inter Milan game and travelled with the squad. Arteta said, “It’s great to have Martin back in training. He’s a bit earlier than expected, but we will decide if we can use him tomorrow.”
Meanwhile, Kieran Tierney is nearing a return after being sidelined since June with a hamstring problem. He has been undertaking individual training and could rejoin team sessions in the coming weeks.
Arsenal will be hoping to regain their footing after a frustrating defeat to Newcastle United left them trailing in the Premier League. The Gunners sit seven points behind league leaders Liverpool, and injuries to key players like Odegaard and Calafiori have compounded their challenges.
Facing Inter Milan, who have been in formidable form with seven wins in their last eight matches, Arsenal know that a strong defensive effort will be required to stand a chance.
The Italian side, under Simone Inzaghi, are unbeaten in Europe this season and have proven resilient even in tense matches, such as their narrow victory against relegation-threatened Venezia last weekend.
The Gunners, however, have a solid European campaign to lean on, with no goals conceded so far. They have secured victories over PSG and Shakhtar Donetsk, maintaining an undefeated streak in the Champions League this term.
