Arsenal’s red card problem: Will discipline problem cost Gunners the title?
In the short term, Arsenal’s latest dismissal is a blow because Saliba will miss the home game against current Premier League leaders Liverpool on 27 October.
The Gunners are currently one point behind the Reds in the table, but should Arne Slot’s side win against Chelsea on Sunday and then beat Arsenal, they would move seven clear of Arteta’s side.
Champions Manchester City could also move clear of Arsenal – their closest rivals in the past two seasons – with victories over winless clubs Wolves and Southampton in their next two.
“Playing for 65 minutes with 10 men at this level is an impossible task. It’s an accident waiting to happen not to get the points,” said Arteta.
On his side’s disciplinary issues, the Spaniard added: “There are things that we’ve discussed in relation to certain topics. Certainly we need to play with 11 if we want to be in the position we want to be.
“I thought what we did with 10 men was quite remarkable.”
Like the red cards shown this season to Trossard against Manchester City and Rice at Brighton for delaying the restart, Saliba’s sending-off was an avoidable one, with Trossard’s awkward pass creating a situation from which his team-mate could not recover.
Midfielder Rice said he was “proud” of his team-mates for the fight they showed but rued the “naivety” which ultimately cost them.
“We’ve kicked ourselves in the foot three times in eight games,” he said.
“We can’t make silly mistakes. You need all your best players on the pitch at all times. The belief is so high and we will stick together.”
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