🔗 Share this article

Mikel Arteta has voiced fears that his team's chase for honors this season is being threatened by a worrying cycle of fitness setbacks and a grueling fixture list.

Fresh Team News

Key midfielder Declan Rice did not travel for the midweek trip to face Club Brugge due to sickness. Meanwhile, forward Leandro Trossard and defender William Saliba are still unavailable.

There was, however, positive news regarding Gabriel Jesus, with the Brazilian striker registered to their European squad. He comes in for the hurt youngster Max Dowman, who picked up an ankle injury.

"Training, 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 vicious circle."

Dowman's setback is the latest in a long list of injuries for the North London side. Since the beginning of last campaign, they have recorded 95 injuries, the second-most total in the English top flight.

Extended Absences

• Defenders Cristhian Mosquera and Gabriel Magalhães are unlikely to be back until the new year.
• Midfielder Kai Havertz continues to rehabilitate from knee and "needs more time," according to the boss.

Arteta dismissed the idea that training intensity were to blame, pointing to a lack of opportunity for sessions. He emphasized the strain on available players, some of whom have played over 150 games in two years.

Transfer Strategy

Even after a significant off-season spend over £250 million, Arteta stated the club is unlikely planning to enter the January transfer market.

"At the moment we're just focusing on bringing the players back and hopefully it will be a question of a short time," he commented. "It's clear how important those weeks are going to be."

Looking Ahead

The squad experienced their first defeat in 18 matches at the hands of Aston Villa, reducing their advantage at the summit of the league to two points.

Attention now shifts to the Champions League, where a sixth group-stage victory would virtually guarantee a knockout phase finish. Forward Gabriel Martinelli could make history by finding the net in a fifth straight successive Champions League fixture.

"We are disappointed with the result, but we have to keep going," he said. "It's not like all is going wrong because we lost one game. So we remain united."