By ISAAN KHAN, REPORTER
Published: 15:36 EST, 9 December 2025 | Updated: 15:37 EST, 9 December 2025
Mikel Arteta has rebuffed claims that he is overtraining his Arsenal players after suffering yet another injury crisis.
The Gunners have had attackers Viktor Gyokeres and Noni Madueke return in recent weeks — but are now missing a further seven players.
The north London club remained without first-choice centre backs William Saliba and Gabriel for Saturday’s dramatic 2-1 defeat by Aston Villa in the Premier League, with Cristhian Mosquera and Kai Havertz also previously sidelined.
For their Champions League trip to Club Bruges on Tuesday, Leandro Trossard and Max Dowman didn’t travel because of a knock and ankle injury respectively, while Declan Rice missed out due to illness.
It takes Arsenal’s injury total to 95 (excluding Rice’s illness) since the start of the last Premier League season — only Brighton have had more (97).
Arteta said: ‘No (they don’t overtrain), because we don't train. I mean, today we've done 20 minutes, so surely it's not because we overtrained the players.
Mikel Arteta has insisted he does not overtrain his Arsenal players, after another injury crisis
Gabriel Magalhaes (left) and William Saliba (right) are among the players currently out injured
‘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.
‘In terms of what happened in the past, we are not having more injuries.
‘The fact is that we had some others that are long term and they haven't been with us since the beginning of the season.’
When pressed further on injuries, he added: ‘I think you have to separate the kind of injuries.
‘Some of the players, they have played over 150 games in two seasons so it starts to get overloaded and you start to ask them again and again and again to do that (play). At some point, they will break down.
‘But yeah, it's something that we are constantly looking at as I said. But we are on it and I'm really happy what we're doing in terms of the medical stuff and everything that we are trying to bring together.
‘But sometimes as well we need some things to go on our side.’
The Gunners are the only team left in the Champions League to still have a 100 per cent record.
Leandro Trossard (right) has not travelled with the sqaud for the game against Club Bruges
Victory over Club Bruges on Wednesday would guarantee a top-eight finish for Arsenal, which would see them progress straight to the last 16.
Meanwhile, Gabriel Jesus could make his first appearance for Arsenal since January after he was added to their Champions League squad.
Jesus replaces Dowman after the 15-year-old injured his ankle playing in a behind-closed-doors match on Saturday.
The Brazilian has been working his way back to full fitness after injuring his knee in January and undergoing surgery.
Arteta added: ‘We were expecting (Gabi) to be training with us by the end of December, but Gabi has been pushing every single day, and he kept telling everybody “I'm going to be earlier, earlier, earlier” and he has done it.
‘So thanks to his work and all the work that the medical staff have done with him throughout these months and we had the possibility to make a swap (with Max) there.’