Arsenal are top of the Premier League, top of the Champions League and also top of the Premier League fair play table, with Mikel Arteta crediting changes in refereeing and urging his players to maintain their discipline.
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 06: Bukayo Saka of Arsenal (2L) reacts to being shown a yellow card by Referee, Peter Bankes, during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Arsenal at Villa Park on December 06, 2025 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images
Arsenal have accumulated the fewest disciplinary points in the league, with 22 points made up entirely of yellow cards, placing them ahead of Manchester City and Leeds United, who both sit on 27 points.
The figures mark a clear shift from last season, when Arsenal were shown three red cards in their opening eight league matches.
Those dismissals involved Declan Rice, Leandro Trossard and William Saliba, with Rice and Trossard sent off for kicking the ball away and delaying the restart against Brighton & Hove Albion and Manchester City.
They have not received any red cards so far this season.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 22: Bernardo Silva of Manchester City reacts prior to Referee, Michael Oliver showing a red card to Leandro Trossard of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Arsenal FC at Etihad Stadium on September 22, 2024 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s home match against Brighton, Arteta said he believes a change in how the laws are being applied has played a role in Arsenal’s improved red card record.
“I think the rules are different now,” he said.
“So, we paid a big price with that (delaying the restart) rule, and hopefully that stays away and we continue to play with 11 players.”
Arteta also reflected on Rice’s dismissal at the Emirates Stadium in August last year, admitting the manner of that performance left a lasting impression.
“I remember it very well,” he said. “I was very hacked off in the manner that we played with 10 men. So hopefully it is going to be very different this time.”
WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND: Declan Rice of Arsenal and his teammates protest to Referee Michael Oliver after Myles Lewis-Skelly of Arsenal is shown a red card for a foul on Matt Doherty of Wolverhampton Wanderers (not pictured) during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers FC and Arsenal FC at Molineux on January 25, 2025. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
Asked about Arsenal’s position at the top of the fair play standings, Arteta said he was unaware of the statistic but welcomed it.
“I didn’t know. That is good, very good.”
Arsenal’s record leaves them ahead of several direct rivals, including Manchester United, Aston Villa and Liverpool, while Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea sit at the bottom of the table.
Premier League Fair Play table
# Club Yellow cards Yellow-reds Reds Total cards Fair play points
1 Arsenal FC 22 0 0 0 22
2 Manchester City 27 0 0 0 27
3 Leeds United 27 0 0 0 27
4 Manchester United 25 1 0 1 28
5 Aston Villa 24 0 1 1 29
6 Nottingham Forest 30 0 0 0 30
7 Newcastle United 22 1 1 2 30
8 Crystal Palace 30 0 0 0 30
9 Burnley FC 23 1 1 2 31
10 Liverpool FC 33 0 0 0 33
11 West Ham United 25 1 1 2 33
12 Fulham FC 33 0 0 0 33
13 Brentford FC 34 0 0 0 34
14 Everton FC 34 0 1 1 39
15 Brighton & Hove Albion 41 0 0 0 41
16 Sunderland AFC 35 0 2 2 45
17 AFC Bournemouth 42 0 1 1 47
18 Wolverhampton Wanderers 37 0 2 2 47
19 Tottenham Hotspur 42 1 1 2 50
20 Chelsea FC 34 1 3 4 52
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