Two Arsenal stars are at risk of picking up a Champions League suspension for a potential semi-final against Atletico Madrid
Mikel Arteta has two Arsenal suspension worries for the Champions League clash against Sporting CP
Mikel Arteta has two Arsenal suspension worries for the Champions League clash against Sporting CP(Image: (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images))
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Arsenal midfielders Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard will be banned for a possible Champions League semi-final first leg if either are cautioned during Wednesday's clash against Sporting CP. The Gunners head into the second leg with a 1-0 advantage, and a tie against Atletico Madrid awaits should Mikel Arteta's men progress.
Yellow card rules in European competition differ significantly from those in the Premier League, with three bookings triggering an automatic ban. Should a player have already served a suspension in the tournament, any further odd-numbered caution will result in another one-game ban.
Zubimendi has already accumulated four yellows, meaning another yellow card against Sporting would rule him out of a potential semi-final first leg. Norgaard, meanwhile, sits on two bookings, so a further yellow card would equally land him with a one-match ban.
Should both players come through unscathed, Arteta will have no further suspension concerns unless someone picks up a straight red card. UEFA regulations state that all bookings are wiped clean once the semi-final stage gets under way.
Despite having clocked up nearly 4,000 minutes of domestic football this season, with tiredness appearing to affect his recent performances, Zubimendi is still expected to feature from the off. Ahead of the match, Arteta brushed aside questions regarding the Spaniard's limited time out of the team.
He said: "Well, there's been more rotation than I think any other team. So in some areas there are less. I think that's the one particular one that you are mentioning, probably.
"Obviously when you play that many games, to maintain the excellent level is almost impossible. I haven't seen a single player probably in the Premier League this season to be able to do that. So, again, it's part of that journey as a player and the shorter it is, the better."
There have been suggestions he should be given a rest, which would see Declan Rice move back into a defensive midfield role. However, that appears unlikely to materialise against Sporting with Rice's availability in doubt.
Having missed training, Arteta acknowledged he has a problem, but was hesitant to confirm whether he could take part on Wednesday evening. The Arsenal manager also revealed that either Bukayo Saka or Jurrien Timber could make a return.
It has been a testing past month for Arsenal with a crushing Carabao Cup final loss to Manchester City and surprising FA Cup elimination by Southampton preceding this past weekend's setback against Bournemouth.
Declan Rice of Arsenal looks on dejectedly
Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice may have picked up an injury in the defeat to Bournemouth
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City's victory over Chelsea the next day has reduced their advantage at the summit of the Premier League, with a crucial encounter against Pep Guardiola's team to follow this weekend. Before that, Arsenal have the chance to reach the Champions League semi-finals for the second year running.
A late Kai Havertz strike in Portugal last week gives the Gunners the upper hand as they look to keep their Champions League unbeaten run intact.
Staying undefeated would book Arsenal's place in the last four, where they would face Atletico Madrid across two legs after the Spanish side edged out Barcelona 3-2 on aggregate.
Elsewhere in the draw, Paris Saint-Germain knocked out Liverpool, while Bayern Munich are widely tipped to progress at Real Madrid's expense after claiming a 2-1 first-leg victory at the Bernabeu.
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