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Arsenal's manager has expressed concern that his team's chase for honors this campaign is being jeopardized by a concerning cycle of fitness setbacks and a relentless schedule.

Fresh Squad Update

Star player Declan Rice did not travel for the midweek trip to Belgium due to illness. In addition, forward Leandro Trossard and center-back William Saliba are still on the sidelines.

There was, on a brighter note, better news regarding Gabriel Jesus, with the South American striker registered to their European squad. He replaces the injured youngster Max Dowman, who suffered an foot problem.

"Training, 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 truly dangerous cycle."

Dowman's issue is the latest in a long series of injuries for the club. Since the start of last campaign, they have recorded 95 injuries, the second-highest total in the Premier League.

Extended Absentees

• Defenders Cristhian Mosquera and Gabriel Magalhães are not expected to be back until 2025.
• Midfielder Kai Havertz still rehabilitate from surgery and "requires more time," as stated by the manager.

Arteta dismissed the suggestion that practice methods were to culprit, citing a shortage of opportunity for drills. He emphasized the strain on available players, some of whom have featured over 150 matches in two seasons.

Recruitment Strategy

Despite a major off-season spend exceeding £250 million, Arteta insisted the club 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 weeks," he commented. "It's clear how crucial those coming weeks are going to be."

Next Challenge

The team experienced their initial loss in 18 matches at the hands of Aston Villa, cutting their advantage at the top of the league to two points.

Focus now turns to the Champions League, where a sixth group-stage win would all but guarantee a top-eight finish. Winger Gabriel Martinelli could make a club record by scoring in a fifth straight successive European fixture.

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