Mikel Arteta Warns Injury Woes Could Undermine Arsenal's Silverware Quest
Arsenal's manager has expressed concern that his team's pursuit for titles this campaign is being threatened by a concerning circle of injuries and a relentless schedule.
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Key midfielder Declan Rice did not travel for the Champions League clash to Belgium due to illness. Meanwhile, attacker Leandro Trossard and center-back William Saliba remain on the sidelines.
There was, however, better news regarding Gabriel Jesus, with the South American striker registered to their European squad. He replaces the hurt youngster Max Dowman, who picked up an ankle injury.
"Training, no because we don't have time to train. But clearly 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 really vicious cycle."
Dowman's setback is the most recent in a extensive series of fitness problems for the club. Since the beginning of last campaign, they have suffered 95 injuries, the second-most total in the English top flight.
Extended Absentees
- 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 shortage of opportunity for sessions. He highlighted the pressure on available players, some of whom have played over 150 games in two seasons.
Transfer Plans
Even after a significant summer investment over £250 million, Arteta insisted the team is not looking to enter the January transfer market.
"At the moment we're just focusing on bringing the players back and with luck it will be a question of weeks," he said. "We know how important those coming weeks are going to be."
Next Challenge
The team experienced their first defeat in 18 games at the weekend, cutting their advantage at the top of the league to two clear points.
Focus now turns to the European stage, where a sixth consecutive group-stage win would virtually secure a top-eight finish. Forward Gabriel Martinelli could create history by scoring in a fifth straight successive Champions League match.
"The team is disappointed with the outcome, but we have to move forward," Martinelli said. "It's not like all is going badly because we lost one game. So we stick together."
