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Nicolas Jackson, Gabriel Jesus and Lucas Paqueta are just three influential names who could be suspended after this weekend.
Arsenal, Chelsea, Crystal Palace and West Ham bosses will all be hoping to have as many first team players available as possible as the infamously busy festive fixture period looms large in the Premier League.
A flurry of midweek action is just a taste of what is to come over Christmas and New Year but injuries aren't the only concern for coaches when it comes to picking starting XIs. In the top flight, should any player accumulate five yellow cards before the 19th fixture of the season, they are slapped with a one-game ban.
Several stars at London clubs have already fallen foul of this rule but there is a long list of players who are on the brink of suspension as it stands. LondonWorld looks at which players at the Gunners, Blues, Eagles and Hammers could be suspended this weekend - Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur play tonight so are not included with no Brentford players on four yellow cards.
Arsenal
For Arsenal, Gabriel Jesus is the only current first team star teetering on the brink of suspension with four yellow cards to his name. The Brazil international was an unused sub in the victory over Manchester United in midweek, which was the first time the player hasn't seen minutes in a top flight fixture since returning from injury in mid September. - F
Gabriel Jesus has four yellow cards to his name.Gabriel Jesus has four yellow cards to his name.
Gabriel Jesus has four yellow cards to his name. | Getty Images
Jurrien Timber, Jorginho and Bukayo Saka have all received three yellow cards this term so can only pick up one more over the next five outings to avoid a one-match suspension before the count resets after the 19th fixture.
Chelsea
Chelsea have two players walking the suspension tightrope. The in-form Nicolas Jackson was rested against Southampton on Wednesday night as Enzo Maresca wrung changes in his side - the striker's disciplinary record may have also been in his mind ahead of the visit of Tottenham Hotspur this weekend.
Jackson has four yellow cards to his name so will be suspended for a match if he picks up another one over the next five matches. He's joined by winger Pedro Neto, who has also been shown a yellow card four times this term.
Robert Sanchez, Levi Colwill, Moises Caicedo, Noni Madueke and Cole Palmer all have three yellow cards as it stands.
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Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace have a tough run of fixtures ahead of the festive period with the visit of Manchester City to Selhurst Park this weekend followed by a tough visit to Brighton and then a home meeting with Arsenal.
Oliver Glasner will be desperate to have a full strength team available for those matches but does risk losing two players should another yellow card be brandished. The first is full-back Daniel Munoz, who bagged the equaliser against Newcastle United last weekend, and the second is midfielder Jefferson Lerma.
Daniel Munoz is close to suspension.Daniel Munoz is close to suspension.
Daniel Munoz is close to suspension. | AFP via Getty Images
Maxence Lacroix is the only player who has three yellow cards with Will Hughes having already served a one-game suspension earlier this season.
West Ham
If Lopetegui does stay at the London Stadium, he may lose Emerson in an upcoming match. The full-back has four yellow cards to his name so far this season so is just one booking away from suspension. The same goes for Lucas Paqueta and Tomas Soucek in midfield.
That trio remain hugely influential for the Hammers and would be a significant blow if multiple were to be suspended at any one time for the club. Max Kilman, Edson Alvarez, Guido Rodriguez and Carlos Soler all have three yellow cards.
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