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Mikel Arteta has voiced fears that his team's chase for honors this campaign is being threatened by a worrying cycle of fitness setbacks and a relentless fixture list.

Fresh Team Update

Star player Declan Rice missed the Champions League trip to face Club Brugge due to illness. Meanwhile, 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 Brazilian forward registered to their Champions League squad. He replaces the hurt youngster Max Dowman, who picked up an ankle 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 consequence to that and it's a truly vicious cycle."

Dowman's setback is the latest in a extensive list 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 the new year.
• Midfielder Kai Havertz still rehabilitate from knee and "requires more time," according to the manager.

Arteta dismissed the idea that practice intensity were to blame, citing a lack of time for sessions. He emphasized the pressure on fit players, some of whom have played over 150 games in two seasons.

Recruitment Plans

Even after a major summer investment exceeding £250 million, Arteta insisted the club is not looking to enter the winter transfer market.

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

Looking Ahead

The squad suffered their first defeat in 18 games at the weekend, cutting their lead at the top of the league to two clear points.

Attention now shifts to the Champions League, where a sixth group win would virtually guarantee a knockout phase finish. Winger Gabriel Martinelli could make a club record by scoring in a fifth straight consecutive European fixture.

"We are frustrated with the result, but we have to keep going," Martinelli said. "This isn't like all is going badly because we lost one game. So we remain united."