Mikel Arteta accepts costly Arsenal reality as William Saliba appeal decision made

Arsenal have dropped points in each of the three Premier League matches they have been reduced to 10 men, a trend Mikel Arteta says has come to an immediate end

Mikel Arteta has admitted Arsenal do have a discipline problem – and warned it could cost them the title.

Arsenal have had 18 red cards in the Premier League since Arteta took charge in December 2019 which includes three in eight games this season. Wolves and Everton are joint-second with 13.

They are unlikely to appeal William Saliba’s sending-off against Bournemouth which led to their first defeat of the season. They have won all five games they have finished with 11 men but dropped points in the three games in which they had players sent off.

Gunners boss Arteta, whose side says it is a problem they have to solve, although he warned talking about it could even up making it worse.

Arteta said: “I mean, playing with ten men, obviously there is an issue. The truth is when you analyse the three very different actions and the outcome of them, the reasons are very different. Regardless of that, we cannot continue to play with ten men, especially at this level.

“When you play with 10 men for 65 minutes, the task becomes almost impossible. So, we need to eradicate that. It’s clear why, the reason and how, it doesn’t matter. We have to focus and it has to happen.

“The most effective way, I have to be very honest, is not talking about it. Because we tried and we showed and we talked and we repeated the message that we had to play with 11 and it happened again after a week or after three weeks and they said: ‘Guys, let’s try something else.’ And then it disappeared.

“So I don’t know if it’s the right way or not but that’s what happened, that’s the reality. We’ve also had two different periods where we had a lot and then not any. Now we have had three in a row.”

Regarding the decision to appeal Saliba’s dismissal, Arteta insisted he would not be the person making the final decision. He said: “I leave that more to the club to understand the circumstances. They will have to decide it.”

Saliba will be available for Tuesday night’s Champions League encounter with Shakhtar Donetsk, before missing the Premier League clash against Liverpool at the weekend. Bukayo Saka appears a long shot to be included in midweek, with the England international absent from Tuesday’s session, along with defender Jurrien Timber.

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