Blow for Arsenal as key player ruled out of Inter Milan clash due to injury

Arsenal's preparations for their upcoming match with Inter Milan have taken a hit as they will be without the services of Declan Rice due to injury for the Champions League group-stage fixture.

Rice played the full 90 minutes of Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat at Newcastle at the weekend, the midfielder’s ninth appearance in the Premier League this season.

But the 25-year-old England international was notably absent from training at London Colney this morning and will not join the rest of Mikel Arteta’s squad on their flight to Milan.

It is unclear what has prevented Rice from travelling to the San Siro but Arteta is likely to provide an update at his pre-match press conference this evening.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Rice has not suffered a serious injury and his omission is simply a ‘precaution’.

The Gunners had been reluctant to risk Rice’s fitness at the San Siro and the former West Ham captain will by assessed by the club’s medical staff ahead of this weekend’s meeting with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

More to follow.