Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard may yet join up with Norway for their games against Slovenia and Kazakhstan next week - despite being left out of the initial squad. Odegaard has been out injured since the start of September after injuring his ankle playing for Norway.

Declan Rice will play no part in Arsenal’s Champions League match against Inter Milan on Wednesday after being left out of the club’s 23-man travelling party. The 25-year-old midfielder played the full 90 minutes in Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat to Newcastle United on Saturday but will not fly to Italy with the rest of the first-team squad after missing training on Tuesday afternoon with an unspecified issue.

Arsenal have been boosted by the imminent return of captain Martin Odegaard from injury, but now face fresh worries over Declan Rice. The return of Odegaard is a timely lift for the Gunners, who lost 1-0 at Newcastle on Saturday and face Inter Milan away in the Champions League on Wednesday.