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Arsenal's manager has voiced fears that his squad's chase for titles this campaign is being threatened by a worrying circle of fitness setbacks and a grueling fixture list.

Latest Team Update

Key midfielder Declan Rice did not travel for the midweek trip to face Club Brugge due to sickness. Meanwhile, attacker Leandro Trossard and center-back William Saliba are still on the sidelines.

There was, however, positive news regarding Gabriel Jesus, with the Brazilian forward added to their Champions League squad. He comes in for the hurt youngster Max Dowman, who picked up an foot injury.

"Practice, no because we lack time to train. But obviously the fact that you are missing players, you are loading other players more, there's a knock-on effect to that and it's a really vicious cycle."

Dowman's issue is the most recent in a extensive series of fitness problems for the North London side. Since the start of last campaign, they have recorded 95 injuries, the second-highest total in the English top flight.

Long-Term Absentees

• Defenders Cristhian Mosquera and Gabriel Magalhães are unlikely to return until the new year.
• Midfielder Kai Havertz still rehabilitate from knee and "needs more time," according to the boss.

Arteta dismissed the suggestion that training intensity were to blame, citing a shortage of time for drills. He emphasized the strain on fit players, some of whom have played over 150 matches in two seasons.

Recruitment Plans

Even after a major off-season spend over £250 million, Arteta stated the team is not planning to enter the winter recruitment market.

"At the moment we're just concentrating on getting the players back and hopefully it will be a question of a short time," he said. "It's clear how important those coming weeks are going to be."

Looking Ahead

The team suffered their first loss in 18 matches at the weekend, reducing their lead at the top of the league to two points.

Focus now shifts to the European stage, where a sixth group-stage win would virtually guarantee a knockout phase finish. Forward Gabriel Martinelli could make history by finding the net in a fifth straight consecutive European match.

"We are frustrated with the outcome, but we have to keep going," he said. "It's not like all is going wrong because we lost one game. So we stick together."