The Gunners slipped further off the pace in the Premier League title race after a 1-1 draw with Chelsea on Sunday (10.11.24) and wants his team to have a clean bill of health when they return to action after the international break as they look to bridge the nine-point gap to Liverpool.

Arteta said: "What I’m praying for is that after the international break we have the team fully physically equipped, that they are available and that they are fit, because, it’s been a nightmare for eight weeks.

"Doubt after doubt, issue after issue, not only with the ones that are not able to play, but with the ones who are able to play."

The coach was disappointed after his team failed to win for the fourth league match in a row after surrendering a lead against their London rivals.

He said: "I am disappointed with the result because I think we deserved more. After scoring the first goal, I’m very disappointed with how we conceded their goal. That’s nowhere near the standards of our defensive habits, how we allowed it.

"The moment you give space and time, you’re going to get punished, so that’s not bad luck. Then the team showed its teeth. We created three big chances. Unfortunately we weren’t able to put the ball in the net, but we deserved to win it."

Arteta was also hit by injuries to Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka during the game and he had a bleak verdict on the situation for the pair.

He said: "It doesn’t look good, because for two players of that importance to tell you they cannot continue in the game, obviously it’s not good news."