🔗 Share this article

Arsenal's manager has voiced fears that his team's pursuit for titles this season is being jeopardized by a concerning circle of injuries and a grueling fixture list.

Fresh Team Update

Star player Declan Rice did not travel for the Champions League clash to face Club Brugge due to sickness. In addition, attacker Leandro Trossard and center-back William Saliba are still on the sidelines.

There was, on a brighter note, positive news regarding Gabriel Jesus, with the Brazilian striker added to their Champions League squad. He comes in for the hurt youngster Max Dowman, who suffered an ankle injury.

"Practice, no because we don't have time to train. But obviously the fact that you are without players, you are loading other players more, there's a consequence to that and it's a really dangerous cycle."

Dowman's issue is the most recent in a extensive list of injuries for the North London side. Since the beginning of last campaign, they have suffered 95 player absences, the second-highest total in the Premier League.

Extended Absentees

• Defenders Cristhian Mosquera and Gabriel Magalhães are unlikely to be back until 2025.
• Midfielder Kai Havertz continues to recover from knee and "requires more time," according to the manager.

Arteta rejected the suggestion that training methods were to blame, pointing to a shortage of opportunity for sessions. He highlighted the strain on fit players, some of whom have played over 150 matches in two seasons.

Transfer Plans

Even after a major off-season spend over £250 million, Arteta insisted the team is not planning to dip into the winter transfer market.

"At the moment we're just focusing on bringing the players back and with luck it will be a matter of weeks," he said. "We know how crucial those coming weeks are going to be."

Next Challenge

The squad experienced their first defeat in 18 games at the weekend, cutting their advantage at the summit of the league to two clear points.

Focus now shifts to the Champions League, where a sixth consecutive group victory would virtually guarantee a knockout phase finish. Forward Gabriel Martinelli could create a club record by finding the net in a fifth straight consecutive European match.

"We are disappointed with the result, but we have to move forward," he stated. "It's not like everything is going wrong because we lost one game. So we stick together."