🔗 Share this article

Mikel Arteta has expressed concern that his squad's pursuit for titles this season is being threatened by a concerning cycle of injuries and a relentless fixture list.

Latest Squad News

Star player Declan Rice did not travel for the midweek trip to face Club Brugge due to sickness. In addition, attacker Leandro Trossard and defender William Saliba remain on the sidelines.

There was, on a brighter note, better news regarding Gabriel Jesus, with the Brazilian forward added to their European squad. He replaces the hurt youngster Max Dowman, who picked up an ankle problem.

"Practice, no because we lack time to train. But obviously the fact that you are missing players, you are loading other players more, there's a knock-on effect to that and it's a really vicious circle."

Dowman's setback is the most recent in a extensive list of injuries for the club. Since the start of last season, they have suffered 95 injuries, the second-highest total in the English top flight.

Long-Term Absentees

• Defenders Cristhian Mosquera and Gabriel Magalhães are unlikely to return until the new year.
• Midfielder Kai Havertz continues to rehabilitate from surgery and "requires more time," as stated by the boss.

Arteta dismissed the idea that training intensity were to blame, pointing to a lack of opportunity for sessions. He highlighted the pressure on fit players, some of whom have featured over 150 games in two seasons.

Transfer Strategy

Even after a major off-season spend exceeding £250 million, Arteta insisted the club is unlikely looking to enter the January transfer market.

"Right now we're just concentrating on getting the players back and with luck it will be a matter of weeks," he commented. "We know how crucial those coming weeks are going to be."

Looking Ahead

The squad experienced their first defeat in 18 matches at the weekend, reducing their lead at the summit of the Premier League to two points.

Attention now turns to the European stage, where a sixth group-stage win would all but guarantee a top-eight finish. Winger Gabriel Martinelli could create a club record by scoring in a fifth straight consecutive European match.

"We are frustrated with the outcome, but we have to move forward," Martinelli stated. "It's not like all is going wrong because we lost one game. So we remain united."