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Mikel Arteta has voiced fears that his team's chase for honors this campaign is being jeopardized by a worrying cycle of injuries and a grueling fixture list.

Fresh Team Update

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

There was, on a brighter note, better news regarding Gabriel Jesus, with the South American striker added to their Champions League squad. He comes in for the hurt youngster Max Dowman, who picked up an ankle problem.

"Practice, no because we don't have time to train. But obviously the fact that you are without players, you are placing demands on other players more, there's a knock-on effect to that and it's a really vicious circle."

Dowman's setback is the most recent in a long 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 continues to rehabilitate from surgery and "needs more time," according to the manager.

Arteta dismissed the suggestion that practice methods were to blame, citing a lack of opportunity for sessions. He emphasized the pressure on fit players, some of whom have played over 150 games in two years.

Recruitment Strategy

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

"Right now we're just concentrating on getting the players back and hopefully it will be a matter of a short time," he said. "We know how crucial those weeks are going to be."

Next Challenge

The squad suffered their first loss in 18 matches at the weekend, reducing their lead at the summit of the Premier League to two clear points.

Focus now shifts to the European stage, where a sixth consecutive group-stage victory would virtually secure a knockout phase place. Winger Gabriel Martinelli could make a club record by scoring in a fifth straight successive European match.

"We are frustrated with the outcome, but we have to keep going," he said. "It's not like everything is going badly because we lost one game. So we remain united."