Mikel Arteta's Concerns Grow Over Arsenal's Red Card Record

Mikel Arteta has described Arsenal’s red card issues as “an accident waiting to happen,” raising concerns about how detrimental this trend could be for the Gunners’ title ambitions. Just eight matches into the new Premier League season, Arsenal has already received three red cards. William Saliba became the latest player to receive a dismissal during Saturday’s 2-0 loss to Bournemouth which ended Arsenal’s unbeaten start.

This follows earlier red cards for Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard, and each dismissal has cost the team valuable points. Former England striker Alan Shearer criticized Arsenal’s disciplinary record on Match of the Day stating that if they don’t change, they won’t accumulate enough points. Arteta acknowledged the challenges that come with playing with 10 men particularly noting that Saliba’s dismissal made their task “impossible.”

Saliba’s absence will impact their upcoming match against Premier League leaders Liverpool as Arsenal currently trails them by one point. Despite the setbacks, Arteta emphasized the need for discipline, noting that they must field 11 players to compete effectively. Midfielder Rice lamented the “naivety” that led to their red cards, admitting, “We’ve kicked ourselves in the foot three times in eight games.”

Historically, teams that accumulate excessive red cards struggle to win the title. Manchester City, who have dominated the league in recent years have never received more than two red cards in a season. Arsenal’s current tally of three red cards in eight games matches the highest number recorded by a title-winning team since Leicester City in 2015-16.

Under Mikel Arteta, Arsenal has received 18 red cards since he took charge, significantly more than any other Premier League team. While Arsène Wenger’s teams also received many red cards, they managed to win the league, highlighting how discipline can significantly impact title races.