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Mikel Arteta has expressed concern that his squad's pursuit for honors this campaign is being jeopardized by a concerning circle of fitness setbacks and a grueling fixture list.

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Star player Declan Rice did not travel for the Champions League clash to face Club Brugge due to illness. Meanwhile, forward Leandro Trossard and center-back William Saliba remain unavailable.

There was, on a brighter note, positive 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 problem.

"Training, no because we don't have time to train. But clearly the fact that you are missing players, you are placing demands on other players more, there's a consequence to that and it's a truly dangerous circle."

Dowman's issue is the most recent in a extensive list of fitness problems for the North London side. Since the start 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 return until 2025.
• Midfielder Kai Havertz continues to rehabilitate from knee and "needs more time," according to the manager.

Arteta rejected the suggestion that practice methods were to blame, pointing to a lack of time for sessions. He emphasized the pressure on available players, some of whom have featured over 150 matches in two years.

Recruitment Strategy

Even after a significant summer spend exceeding £250 million, Arteta insisted the team is not planning to enter the winter recruitment market.

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

Looking Ahead

The team experienced their first loss in 18 games at the hands of Aston Villa, reducing their lead at the top of the Premier League to two clear points.

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

"The team is frustrated with the result, but we have to move forward," he stated. "It's not like all is going badly because we lost one game. So we stick together."