Arteta About Arsenal's Storm Of Injury: A Dangerous Circle, A Burden Carried By Other Players

Mikel Arteta is dizzy by the storm of injuries at Arsenal (Instagram/@arsenal).

JAKARTA - Mikel Arteta admits Arsenal are in a very dangerous circle, but denies having coached his players excessively.

Currently, the Gunners are faced with an injury crisis that is getting worse with the absence of young Max Dowman for several weeks.

Arteta said 15-year-old Dowman suffered an ankle injury during a closed friendly on Saturday, December 6, 2025, local time.

The young player has been withdrawn from the Champions League squad, meaning he was unable to play in the tournament until the knockout stages.

Leandro Trossard did not go to Belgium for the Champions League group stage match against Club Brugge on Thursday, December 11, 2025, early morning WIB, after suffering an injury to Arsenal's defeat in the Premier League against Aston Villa last weekend.

Declan Rice was also absent due to illness. Trio defenders William Saliba, Gabriel, and Cristhian Mosquera and striker Kai Havertz are still absent.

Arsenal have suffered 95 extraordinary injuries since the start of last season's Premier League - only losing to Brighton - and 28 injuries have occurred so far this season, which is one of the highest in the league.

However, when asked if he burdened his players too much with training, Arteta firmly denied it.

"No, because we don't have time to train. Today we only practice 20 minutes. So, of course not because we are too burdensome for players."

"However, it is clear when you lose a player, you burden other players and there are consequences. It is a very dangerous circle."

"You have to separate the types of injuries. Some of them are long-term injuries and some acute injuries. That is something we continue to pay attention to."

"We've played a lot of games with a lot of players out. It causes a lot of pressure and then you get more injuries," Arteta said at ESPN.

Reflecting on his latest setback with Dowman, Arteta said that it was part of the journey. According to him, at certain points when playing at professional levels and playing in Dowman's position and how he plays, it will happen.

"This is not an ideal situation. He recovered for weeks, his condition could have been worse. We learned from that incident."

"Now use this time to continue to improve his education, in everything related to professional football, his habits, the way he develops his physique, and his understanding of the game," said Arteta.

Meanwhile, Gabriel Jesus could have performed for the first time with Arsenal in 332 days against Club Brugge.

Jesus has been absent since experiencing anterior cruciatum ligament tear in his left knee when Arsenal lost to Manchester United in the FA Cup Third Round on January 12, 2025.

Arsenal telah mengonfirmasi bahwa pemain berusia 28 tahun itu kini telah terdaftar dalam squad Liga Champions. Ia menggantikan Dowman.

Jesus was a substitute who was not played when Arsenal drew 1-1 against Chelsea last month and home win 2-0 over Brentford.

Mikel Merino recently led Arsenal's front line, with Viktor Gyokeres making his last three appearances as a substitute after suffering a groin injury.

The Gunners tried to bounce back from Aston Villa's 1-2 defeat in the Premier League last weekend with the ambition of winning six consecutive wins in the Champions League.