Arteta Warns Injury Woes Could Undermine Arsenal's Trophy Hunt
Mikel Arteta has expressed concern that his team's pursuit for titles this campaign is being jeopardized by a concerning cycle of injuries and a grueling schedule.
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Star player Declan Rice did not travel for the Champions League clash to face Club Brugge due to sickness. In addition, forward Leandro Trossard and center-back William Saliba are still on the sidelines.
There was, however, better news regarding Gabriel Jesus, with the South American striker added to their European squad. He comes in for the hurt youngster Max Dowman, who suffered an foot injury.
"Training, no because we lack time to train. But obviously the fact that you are without players, you are loading other players more, there's a knock-on effect to that and it's a truly vicious circle."
Dowman's issue 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.
Extended Absences
- Defenders Cristhian Mosquera and Gabriel Magalhães are not expected to be back until 2025.
- Midfielder Kai Havertz still rehabilitate from knee and "needs more time," according to the manager.
Arteta rejected the suggestion that practice methods were to culprit, citing a lack of time for sessions. He emphasized the pressure on available players, some of whom have played over 150 games in two years.
Recruitment Plans
Even after a major off-season spend exceeding £250 million, Arteta insisted the club is not planning to dip into the winter transfer market.
"Right now we're just concentrating on bringing the players back and with luck it will be a question of weeks," he commented. "It's clear how crucial those weeks are going to be."
Looking Ahead
The squad experienced their first defeat in 18 games at the weekend, reducing their lead at the top of the league to two clear points.
Attention now turns to the European stage, where a sixth group-stage victory would virtually secure a top-eight place. Forward Gabriel Martinelli could create a club record by scoring in a fifth successive Champions League match.
"The team is disappointed with the outcome, but we have to move forward," he said. "This isn't like all is going badly because we lost one game. So we remain united."
