Arsenal’s red card problem: Will discipline problem cost Gunners title?

In the short term, Arsenal’s latest dismissal is a blow as Saliba will miss the home game against current Premier League leaders Liverpool on October 27.

The Gunners are currently one point behind the Reds in the table, but if Arne Slot’s side were to win against Chelsea on Sunday and then beat Arsenal, they would be seven points ahead of Arteta’s side.

Champions Manchester City could also move away from Arsenal – their biggest rivals in the past two seasons – with victories over winless clubs Wolves and Southampton in their next two seasons.

“Playing 65 minutes with ten men at this level is an impossible task. It is an accident that has to happen not to get the points,” said Arteta.

Regarding disciplinary issues for his part, the Spaniard added: “There are things we have discussed regarding certain topics. We definitely have to play with eleven if we want to be in the position we want to be.”

“I thought what we did with ten men was quite remarkable.”

Like the red cards Trossard received against Manchester City and Rice at Brighton this season for delaying the restart, Saliba’s sending-off was avoidable, with Trossard’s awkward pass creating a situation from which his teammate could not recover.

Midfielder Rice said he was “proud” of his teammates for the fight they showed, but lamented the “naivety” that ultimately cost them.

“We kicked ourselves in the foot three times in eight games,” he said.

“We can’t make stupid mistakes. You need all your best players on the field at all times. Belief is so high and we will stick together.”