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Mikel Arteta has expressed concern that his team's chase for titles this season is being threatened by a worrying circle of fitness setbacks and a grueling fixture list.

Latest Squad News

Key midfielder Declan Rice missed the midweek clash to Belgium due to illness. Meanwhile, forward Leandro Trossard and defender William Saliba remain on the sidelines.

There was, on a brighter note, better news regarding Gabriel Jesus, with the Brazilian forward added to their European squad. He comes in for the injured youngster Max Dowman, who suffered an foot problem.

"Practice, no because we lack time to train. But clearly the fact that you are missing players, you are loading other players more, there's a consequence to that and it's a really dangerous cycle."

Dowman's setback is the most recent in a long list of injuries for the club. Since the beginning of last season, they have suffered 95 player absences, the second-most total in the Premier League.

Long-Term Absentees

• Defenders Cristhian Mosquera and Gabriel Magalhães are unlikely to be back until the new year.
• Midfielder Kai Havertz still rehabilitate from surgery and "requires more time," as stated by the boss.

Arteta rejected the suggestion that practice intensity were to culprit, citing a shortage of time for sessions. He emphasized the strain on available players, some of whom have played over 150 games in two seasons.

Transfer Plans

Despite a significant summer investment over £250 million, Arteta stated the club is not planning to dip into the winter transfer market.

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

Next Challenge

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

Attention now turns to the European stage, where a sixth group-stage win would all but secure a top-eight place. Winger Gabriel Martinelli could make history by scoring in a fifth successive Champions League fixture.

"We are disappointed with the result, but we have to move forward," Martinelli stated. "It's not like everything is going badly because we lost one game. So we remain united."