Discipline issues could lose Arsenal the Premier League title

Mikel Arteta believed he was trapped. Arsenal’s right back Ben White was yellow carded in the first half of the Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday. The manager made a rapid judgement.

Halftime required white removal. “We have played enough with 10 men in recent periods,” Arteta smirked. Arsenal’s discipline issue may cost Arteta’s squad the Premier League title.

Arsenal has had three players sent off in the first eight rounds of a league campaign with an unprecedented yellow card rate. Under Arteta, it continues a motif. Since his appointment in late 2019, Arsenal has received 18 Premier League red cards, five more than the next team.

Tellingly for Arteta, Arsenal’s only losses this season—the 1-1 home draw with Brighton, the 2-2 away draw at Manchester City, and the 2-0 loss at Bournemouth on Saturday—occurred by player dismissal.