Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta finds himself grappling with a recurring disciplinary issue as the club looks to navigate a congested fixture list and maintain its competitiveness on multiple fronts. The Gunners have been shown a staggering 18 red cards since Arteta took the helm in December 2019, five more than any other Premier League side during that period.
A Red Card Epidemic
The latest dismissal came in Arsenal’s surprising 2-0 defeat at Bournemouth on Saturday, with William Saliba receiving his marching orders in a hotly contested decision. This marks the third red card for the Gunners this season alone, following the sending off of Declan Rice against Brighton in August and Leandro Trossard‘s early bath at Manchester City last month.
Arteta acknowledged the problem, stating, “Playing with 10 men, obviously there is an issue. The truth is when you analyse the three very different actions and the outcome of them, the reasons are very different. Regardless of that, we cannot continue to play with 10 men, especially at this level. We need to eradicate that. It’s clear why, the reason, and how doesn’t matter. We have to focus and it has to happen.”
A Silent Approach
Intriguingly, when pressed on potential solutions, the Spaniard revealed that experience has taught him not to make it a live issue among the squad. “The most effective way, I have to be very honest, is not talking about it,” Arteta explained. “Because we tried, we showed and we talked, and we repeated the message that we had to play with 11, and it happened again after a week or three weeks. They said: ‘Guys, let’s try something else,’ and then it disappeared.”
Shakhtar Showdown
Arsenal’s disciplinary woes come at a critical juncture, with Ukrainian giants Shakhtar Donetsk visiting the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday in the Champions League. While the expanded format of the competition means progression is still well within reach even with dropped points, Arteta was quick to stress the importance of the encounter.
“Tomorrow is a day when we really have to show that determination, that quality. In the Champions League the margins are so small, we’re going to have to be at our best and we are fully focused only on that.”
– Mikel Arteta
Fixture Congestion Concerns
The match also serves as a microcosm of the broader issues facing modern football, with the ever-increasing demands on players raising concerns about burnout and diminished spectacle. Mikel Merino, the Spain midfielder, addressed these worries when questioned about the bloated fixture list.
“It has been a tricky and difficult topic for the past few months,” Merino acknowledged. “Obviously we’re players and love to play football. But at the same time we’re reaching a level where players are getting injured and the game is not at the highest point. So it’s best for everyone to get to a point where we can keep playing to give a spectacle.”
He continued, “If players don’t rest there will be injuries and everyone wants to see the big names perform, do these amazing tricks and high-quality football. So hopefully we can get to an agreement where everyone is happy.”
The Road Ahead
As Arsenal navigates this challenging period, the focus will be on maintaining discipline and competitiveness across all fronts. With Bukayo Saka potentially returning from a hamstring injury for the Shakhtar clash and Martin Ødegaard and Jurriën Timber still sidelined, Arteta will need to carefully manage his squad to avoid further setbacks.
The Gunners’ red card epidemic may not be a topic of discussion within the dressing room, but it undoubtedly looms large over the club’s ambitions. As they face a pivotal Champions League fixture and a daunting Premier League schedule, Arsenal’s ability to keep eleven men on the pitch could be the key to unlocking their full potential under Arteta’s stewardship.
