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Arsenal's manager has voiced fears that his squad's pursuit for titles this season is being threatened by a worrying circle of injuries and a grueling fixture list.

Fresh Squad Update

Key midfielder Declan Rice did not travel for the midweek trip to Belgium due to sickness. Meanwhile, forward Leandro Trossard and center-back William Saliba are still unavailable.

There was, on a brighter note, positive news regarding Gabriel Jesus, with the South American striker added to their European squad. He replaces the injured youngster Max Dowman, who picked up an ankle injury.

"Practice, no because we lack time to train. But obviously the fact that you are without players, you are loading other players more, there's a consequence to that and it's a truly vicious cycle."

Dowman's issue is the latest in a long list of injuries 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 Absences

• Defenders Cristhian Mosquera and Gabriel Magalhães are not expected to return until the new year.
• Midfielder Kai Havertz continues to rehabilitate from knee and "needs more time," according to the manager.

Arteta rejected the idea that practice intensity were to culprit, citing a lack of opportunity for drills. He emphasized the pressure on fit players, some of whom have featured over 150 games in two seasons.

Recruitment Plans

Despite a significant off-season spend exceeding £250 million, Arteta stated the club is unlikely planning to dip into the winter transfer market.

"Right now we're just concentrating on getting the players back and hopefully it will be a matter of a short time," he said. "It's clear how crucial those weeks are going to be."

Looking Ahead

The team experienced their first loss in 18 matches at the hands of Aston Villa, cutting their advantage at the summit of the Premier League to two points.

Focus now shifts to the European stage, where a sixth group-stage win would all but secure a top-eight finish. Forward Gabriel Martinelli could create a club record by finding the net in a fifth straight consecutive European fixture.

"The team is frustrated with the outcome, but we have to move forward," he stated. "This isn't like everything is going badly because we lost one game. So we remain united."