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Arteta will be quietly pleased | Getty Images
One of Arsenal’s key players has picked up a clever suspension during the Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid.
Arsenal have lost a player for their next Champions League game after a yellow card during their clash with Atletico Madrid. The Gunners knew they were in for a difficult clash on Tuesday night, facing a stubborn Atleti side who pride themselves on making it difficult for opponents under Diego Simeone.
The two sides went in at the break level, with no goals and little to report. Arsenal had the only two shots on target, but opportunities were hard to come by, as predicted heading into this one.
The one downside - that could have a big upside - for Arsenal is that Martin Zubimendi picked up a yellow card in the 37th minute, and that means he is suspended for their next Champions League league phase game, against Slavia Praha having picked up three yellow cards during this phase.
But while the yellow card was perhaps unintentional, it was a wise move from the Spaniard, who won’t be too worried about his side winning in his absence in Prague. But crucially, Arsenal face a very good-looking Bayern Munich after that Slavia Praha game, and this yellow card means Zubimendi will not be suspended for that game, nor can he be.
Had the Spaniard not been booked in this game and gone on to be booked against Slavia Praha, he would have missed the Bayern. game. We will never know whether the booking was intentional, but it wouldn’t be surprising if Mikel Arteta had a quiet word with his midfielder and told him to get a yellow at some point during the game.
After all, Zubimendi has been pivotal for Arsenal since arriving from Real Sociedad in the summer. Arteta said last month after a win over Nottingham Forest: “Unbelievable. Two very difficult goals in terms of execution. But yeah, I think he’s come in the team, he’s come to the club and you feel a real presence, a real authority in everything that he does on that pitch as well. And if he can, on top of that, contribute in the scoreline with goals, what else can we ask?”
A well-timed suspension as far as the Gunners are concerned, and it will be interesting to see if Declan Rice, who is on two yellow cards, follows suit.
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