Reports in Italy suggested that the knee issue was not a serious one, and Arteta confirmed ahead of the trip to Newcastle that the defender was likely to miss a “few weeks”. There has been no firm update on Calafiori’s recovery, but Arsenal will hope to have him available again later this month.

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.