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Mikel Arteta has expressed concern that his squad's chase for titles this season is being threatened by a worrying cycle of injuries and a grueling schedule.

Latest Team Update

Star player Declan Rice missed the Champions League clash to Belgium due to illness. Meanwhile, attacker Leandro Trossard and center-back William Saliba remain unavailable.

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

"Training, no because we don't have time to train. But obviously 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 circle."

Dowman's issue is the latest in a extensive list of injuries for the North London side. Since the beginning of last season, they have suffered 95 injuries, the second-highest total in the English top flight.

Extended Absences

• Defenders Cristhian Mosquera and Gabriel Magalhães are not expected to be back until the new year.
• Midfielder Kai Havertz continues to rehabilitate from knee and "requires more time," as stated by the boss.

Arteta rejected the idea that practice methods were to blame, citing a lack of time for sessions. He highlighted the pressure on fit players, some of whom have featured over 150 games in two seasons.

Transfer Plans

Despite a major off-season spend exceeding £250 million, Arteta insisted the team is unlikely looking to dip into the winter transfer market.

"At the moment we're just concentrating on bringing the players back and with luck it will be a question of a short time," he said. "We know how important those weeks are going to be."

Next Challenge

The team experienced their first loss in 18 games at the weekend, cutting their lead at the summit of the league to two points.

Focus now shifts to the European stage, where a sixth group victory would virtually secure a top-eight finish. Forward Gabriel Martinelli could make history by finding the net in a fifth straight successive Champions League match.

"The team is disappointed with the result, but we have to move forward," Martinelli said. "It's not like everything is going wrong because we lost one game. So we stick together."