Mikel Arteta looks downbeat after Arsenal lose to Bournemouth(Image: Getty Images)

The true cost of Mikel Arteta's major Arsenal problem laid bare in Premier League title race

Red cards have been a major talking point in Arsenal's season so far

21 Oct 2024, 05:00 by Lee Wilmot · football.london

Arsenal have had more red cards than any other team in the Premier League this season. William Saliba's dismissal against Bournemouth on Saturday evening was the third of the season for the Gunners.

Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard were sent off for kicking the ball away earlier in the season, stopping Brighton and Manchester City respectively from taking a quick free-kick. For Saliba, it was denying a goalscoring opportunity - hauling down Evanilson as he broke over halfway for the Cherries at the Vitality Stadium.

Nottingham Forest and Southampton have both had two red cards this season, with six sides on one solitary red card for the campaign so far.

It is a big problem that has been levelled at Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta since he arrived at the club. Arsenal have had 18 red cards since Arteta arrived as manager - five more than the next worst team in the top flight.

And if this season is anything to go by, it is a big problem the Spaniard needs to solve, and fast. Arsenal lost ground in the Premier League title race as a result of their defeat to Bournemouth.

Liverpool and Manchester City both did on Sunday what Arsenal could not on Saturday and that was pick up all three points. City left it late to beat Wolves, with a 95th minute John Stones goal securing the victory. Liverpool had a tough time against Chelsea too, but ultimately came out on top too.

Those results leave the Gunners trailing the top two by three and four points with eight games of the campaign now passed.

The three red cards have cost Arsenal five points already this season. They led 1-0 when Rice was sent off against Brighton, with the concession of a goal meaning they had to settle for a 1-1 draw in the end.

The same happened at the Etihad Stadium. the Gunners were leading 2-1 against City before Trossard saw red. A late John Stones goal meant they had to settle for a point once more.

Then on Saturday, the scores were goalless against Bournemouth, but two late goals meant the Gunners left the south coast empty-handed.

Playing against ten men is no mean feat of course, but Arsenal's inability to hold onto what they have before red cards could come back to haunt them. Holding out to claim the result you had before a red card is not simple. But the big teams often find a way to battle through adversity.

Those extra five points would place Arsenal at the top of the Premier League this season and would mean they were still unbeaten too. It's certainly not an easy problem for Arteta to fix, but it is something that will be concerning as the season goes on.

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