I am going through Bleak Falls Barrow with a new reincarnation, seeing that Arvel runs off with the Golden Claw after he is cut down from the spider web. I did not chase immediately, instead opening the burial urns before moving onwards. However, in the next chamber where Arvel has always met his fated end, his body is not spotted. Nor in the next, the next, etc, all the way to the door requiring the Claw. I have backtracked, looking carefully for hidden spots his body could lay, but to no avail.

Any thoughts as to where Arvel and his coveted Golden Claw could be?

he's supposed to die at the first trap I think, where the draugh appears

I'm sure he's quite dead. Probably died in that room with the swinging gate trap and Draugr, I can't see him making it past that.

A lot of the time corpses will actually fall through the floor, for me.

If you can't find him reload a save when enter the barrow.

did you try turning on the floating markers? maybe he's hiding in a shadow or something

Very good idea. You should follow his advice, dwalon