Arsenal are potentially just two games away from losing Jorginho, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber while Gabriel Jesus is on a tightrope for the foreseeable.
The Gunners host Everton in the Premier League in what is seen as a huge chance to potentially close the gap on Liverpool and move above Chelsea. However, with so many games coming up in quick succession, it is imperative that Mikel Arteta has a full array of players to choose from.
This option could be taken out of his hands in just two matches should a number of key players pick up yellow cards. Jesus is the immediate concern for Arsenal as he sits on four cautions in the Premier League this season.
Just one more booking would see him suspended for one match. Jorginho, Rice, Saka and Timber are less of an immediate concern but if they pick up another two yellow cards in the Premier League, they shall also face a one-game suspension.
Fortunately for Arsenal, they do not have long to ride out this scenario. The five-card cut-off in the Premier League is imposed after the 19th match of the season.
So, should the five players above be on four yellow cards or less after the New Year's Day clash with Brentford, they will avoid a one-game suspension. However, those yellow cards accumulated could still come back to bite them.
The next limit is ten yellow cards and should they hit this before the 33rd game of the season, they will be handed a whopping two-game suspension.
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Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus with the Arsenal Therapy Dog Win during the Arsenal Men's team group shoot at London Colney on September 18, 2023
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