Mikel Arteta Warns Fitness Woes Could Undermine The Gunners' Silverware Hunt

Mikel Arteta has expressed concern that his squad's pursuit for titles this season is being jeopardized by a concerning circle of fitness setbacks and a relentless fixture list.

Fresh Team Update

Star player Declan Rice did not travel for the midweek clash to Belgium due to illness. Meanwhile, forward Leandro Trossard and defender William Saliba remain unavailable.

There was, on a brighter note, better news regarding Gabriel Jesus, with the Brazilian forward added to their Champions League squad. He replaces the injured youngster Max Dowman, who suffered an ankle injury.

"Practice, no because we lack time to train. But clearly the fact that you are without players, you are placing demands on other players more, there's a consequence to that and it's a truly vicious circle."

Dowman's setback is the latest in a extensive series of injuries for the North London side. Since the start of last campaign, they have recorded 95 player absences, the second-most total in the Premier League.

Long-Term Absences

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

Arteta dismissed the suggestion that practice methods were to culprit, pointing to a shortage of opportunity for drills. He highlighted the strain on fit players, some of whom have featured over 150 games in two years.

Transfer Plans

Despite a significant summer investment over £250 million, Arteta insisted the club is not looking to dip into the January recruitment market.

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

Looking Ahead

The squad experienced their initial loss in 18 games at the weekend, cutting their advantage at the summit of the Premier League to two clear points.

Focus now turns to the European stage, where a sixth group-stage victory would virtually secure a top-eight finish. Forward Gabriel Martinelli could create a club record by finding the net in a fifth consecutive European fixture.

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