Mikel Arteta Fears Injury Woes Could Undermine The Gunners' Trophy Hunt
Arsenal's manager has voiced fears that his team's pursuit for titles this campaign is being jeopardized by a worrying cycle of fitness setbacks and a relentless fixture list.
Latest Team News
Star player Declan Rice did not travel for the midweek trip to Belgium due to illness. Meanwhile, attacker Leandro Trossard and defender William Saliba remain on the sidelines.
There was, however, better news regarding Gabriel Jesus, with the Brazilian striker registered to their Champions League squad. He comes in for the injured youngster Max Dowman, who suffered an foot problem.
"Practice, no because we lack 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 fitness problems for the North London side. Since the beginning of last season, they have recorded 95 injuries, the second-most total in the English top flight.
Long-Term Absentees
- Defenders Cristhian Mosquera and Gabriel Magalhães are unlikely to be back until 2025.
- Midfielder Kai Havertz still rehabilitate from surgery and "requires more time," as stated by the boss.
Arteta rejected the idea that practice intensity were to culprit, citing a lack of opportunity for sessions. He highlighted the pressure on available players, some of whom have played over 150 matches in two years.
Transfer Plans
Even after a significant off-season investment exceeding £250 million, Arteta stated the team is not looking to enter the January recruitment market.
"Right now we're just focusing on bringing the players back and with luck it will be a matter of a short time," he said. "It's clear how crucial those weeks are going to be."
Next Challenge
The team suffered their initial defeat in 18 matches at the hands of Aston Villa, cutting their lead at the summit of the league to two clear points.
Focus now shifts to the Champions League, where a sixth group-stage win would virtually secure a top-eight finish. Forward Gabriel Martinelli could create history by scoring in a fifth straight consecutive European fixture.
"The team is disappointed with the result, but we have to move forward," he stated. "This isn't like all is going badly because we lost one game. So we stick together."
