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Arsenal's manager has voiced fears that his squad's pursuit for titles this campaign is being threatened by a concerning cycle of fitness setbacks and a grueling fixture list.

Latest Squad News

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 are still unavailable.

There was, on a brighter note, positive news regarding Gabriel Jesus, with the South American striker registered to their Champions League squad. He comes in for the injured youngster Max Dowman, who suffered an foot problem.

"Training, no because we don't have 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 really dangerous 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 recorded 95 player absences, the second-highest total in the Premier League.

Long-Term Absences

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

Arteta rejected the suggestion that practice methods were to culprit, pointing to a lack of time for sessions. He highlighted the strain on fit players, some of whom have played over 150 matches in two seasons.

Recruitment Strategy

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

"Right now we're just concentrating on bringing the players back and hopefully it will be a matter of a short time," he said. "It's clear 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 top of the Premier League to two clear points.

Attention now shifts to the Champions League, where a sixth group victory would all but secure a knockout phase finish. Forward Gabriel Martinelli could create a club record by finding the net in a fifth straight consecutive European fixture.

"The team is frustrated with the outcome, but we have to move forward," he stated. "This isn't like all is going wrong because we lost one game. So we remain united."