🔗 Share this article

Mikel Arteta has expressed concern that his squad's chase for honors this campaign is being jeopardized by a worrying cycle of fitness setbacks and a relentless schedule.

Latest Squad Update

Star player Declan Rice did not travel for the Champions League clash to face Club Brugge due to illness. Meanwhile, forward Leandro Trossard and center-back William Saliba remain unavailable.

There was, however, positive news regarding Gabriel Jesus, with the Brazilian forward registered to their Champions League squad. He comes in for the injured youngster Max Dowman, who suffered an ankle problem.

"Training, no because we don't have time to train. But obviously the fact that you are missing players, you are loading other players more, there's a consequence to that and it's a truly vicious cycle."

Dowman's issue is the latest in a extensive list of injuries for the club. Since the start of last campaign, they have suffered 95 injuries, the second-highest total in the Premier League.

Extended Absences

• Defenders Cristhian Mosquera and Gabriel Magalhães are not expected to be back until the new year.
• Midfielder Kai Havertz still recover from knee and "requires more time," as stated by the boss.

Arteta rejected the suggestion that training intensity were to culprit, pointing to a lack of time for drills. He highlighted the pressure on fit players, some of whom have played over 150 games in two years.

Recruitment Plans

Even after a significant off-season spend exceeding £250 million, Arteta stated the club is unlikely looking to dip into the January recruitment market.

"Right now we're just concentrating on bringing the players back and hopefully it will be a matter of weeks," he said. "It's clear how crucial those weeks are going to be."

Looking Ahead

The squad suffered their initial defeat in 18 games at the hands of Aston Villa, cutting their lead at the top of the league to two clear points.

Attention now shifts to the Champions League, where a sixth consecutive group-stage win would virtually secure a top-eight finish. Winger Gabriel Martinelli could make history by scoring in a fifth straight consecutive Champions League match.

"We are frustrated with the outcome, but we have to keep going," Martinelli stated. "This isn't like everything is going badly because we lost one game. So we remain united."