Enzo Maresca told Declan Rice injury reality as Arsenal sweat over three key stars vs Chelsea

Declan Rice remains a doubt to face Chelsea on Sunday having failed to take part in Arsenal training since sustaining an injury against Newcastle United last Saturday.

The midfielder - who has nevertheless been included in this month’s England squad - sat out Wednesday’s 1-0 Champions League defeat to Inter Milan and faces a late fitness call ahead of the trip to Stamford Bridge.

“I have to be very vague on that one because there’s no clarity if he [Rice] is going to be fit on the weekend,” Mikel Arteta said in Friday’s press conference. “He hasn’t trained yet and it’s not clear if he’ll be able to play.”

Meanwhile, the Gunners are assessing how Kai Havertz and Mikel Merino recover from their respective head injuries. Merino was forced off at half-time against Inter after a clash while Havertz sustained a cut to the face in the latter stages.

Arteta has confirmed Merino did not suffer concussion on Wednesday but has felt tender in the days since. “We will have to wait to see how they react,” Arteta said of the pair.

“Kai had a nasty cut so we had to take him off. With Mikel he wasn’t feeling great the day before so we had to sub him at half time.”

Martin Odegaard is expected to feature in some capacity, having come on for a late cameo at the San Siro after two months and 12 games out injured. However, Arteta was unable to confirm whether the Norwegian is ready to start against Chelsea.

Arteta swerved: “Everybody in the squad will be fit and available to start the game. Then it will be a decision on whether to start the game.”

Loanee Raheem Sterling will not be available with the winger facing up against his parent club while Riccardo Calafiori is out for a number of weeks with a knee injury. Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney are also injury absences.

As for Chelsea, Cole Palmer is facing a late call regarding his inclusion having suffered a knock against Manchester United last weekend. Enzo Maresca says the playmaker is “getting better” and says Saturday’s training session will indicate his availability versus Arsenal.

Jadon Sancho is the only other doubt with the winger missing last weekend's trip to Old Trafford due to a knock.