Coach Mikel Arteta has voiced serious concerns over a mounting injury crisis at Arsenal, warning that the continuous setbacks are creating a "dangerous spiral" that could severely impact the club's title aspirations. Ahead of their Champions League match against Club Brugge, Arteta confirmed a growing list of absentees: Declan Rice was sidelined with illness, while Leandro Trossard and William Saliba remained unavailable. The defense faces further challenges, with Cristhian Mosquera and Gabriel Magalhaes unlikely to return before the new year, and Kai Havertz still recovering from knee surgery.

A rare positive note came with the return of Gabriel Jesus to the squad, replacing 15-year-old Max Dowman. Dowman, who recently became the youngest player to feature in Champions League history, will be out for several weeks with an ankle injury. His injury marks the 95th for Arsenal since the start of last season, placing them second in the Premier League for injury frequency.

Coach Mikel Arteta speaks during a press conference before Arsenal's match against Club Brugge at Jan Breydel Stadium, Sint-Andries, Brugge, Belgium on 9/12/2024. *Photo: Belga*

Asked about the unusually high number of injuries, Arteta emphasized the need for classification. "Some are acute, long-term injuries," he explained. "When you lose key players, others have to play more, and that creates a very dangerous spiral. We monitor constantly, and I am satisfied with the work our medical team is doing, but sometimes players also need more time to recover."

The Spanish manager attributed many injuries to prolonged player overload. "It's not just one season," he stated. "Some players have played too much. When you ask them to play game after game, the risk of a second injury after the first is very high. That is an obvious consequence."

Despite the injury crisis, Arteta affirmed that Arsenal has no immediate plans to bolster their squad during the January transfer window. "We are focused on getting players back," he said. "Hopefully, it's just a matter of a few weeks, and that time is crucial because this is a season-defining period."

Arsenal players travel to Belgium to prepare for their match against Club Brugge.

Last weekend, Arsenal suffered a 1-2 defeat to Aston Villa in round 15 of the Premier League. This result ended the "Gunners'" 18-match unbeaten run across all competitions and allowed Manchester City to close the gap to two points.

Arteta described the feeling after the match as "very strange." He added, "We don't lose often, so it's also a time to reflect and re-evaluate. Seeing how the players reacted, how they fell down with regret, you understand how much effort and desire they have. Such defeats must help us grow and appreciate what we are achieving."

The 43-year-old coach stressed that Arsenal remains in their desired position in both the Premier League and the Champions League. "We have to learn every day because the fine line between winning and losing is very thin," he expressed.

Gabriel Martinelli, who could become the first Arsenal player to score in five consecutive Champions League matches, also affirmed that the team's spirit has not collapsed. "We are disappointed, but not everything falls apart just because of one loss. The whole team will unite and prepare well," the Brazilian forward confidently stated.

Hong Duy (via The Guardian)