Gabriel Jesus will be walking the disciplinary tight-rope if he features in Arsenal's Premier League fixture against Brentford.
The £45m summer signing from Manchester City has been ever-present for the Gunners in all seven games across all competitions, scoring three goals and weighing in with the same number of assists to help his new club get off to a strong start at home and in Europe.
As a member of Arsenal's leadership group - along with captain Martin Odegaard and Granit Xhaka - Jesus has already established himself as one of Mikel Arteta's undroppables when it comes to the Premier League line-up and is expected to lead the line once again at Brentford if available for selection.
READ MORE: Arsenal line-ups vs Brentford as Partey starts, big Tomiyasu decision, Gabriel Jesus returns
But could the 25-year-old's disciplinary record force the Gunners manager into a rethink in west London? As well as having a number of injury problems to contend with ahead of the game against the Bees, Spaniard has Jesus as the one key player who is walking the suspension tightrope.
As confirmed by the FA in their 'Information for Players on Disciplinary Procedures' 2022-23 season guide at the beginning of the campaign, any player who accumulates five bookings before the cut-off point of 19 matches will have to serve an automatic one-match ban.
Currently, Jesus is the only Arsenal player in danger of facing a suspension as he has received three yellow cards thus far - the last of which he picked up in the 3-1 loss at the hands of Manchester United almost a fortnight ago - in the Premier League this season, so he must watch his step in the coming weeks.
Whilst another booking against Brentford won't rule the striker out of the North London Derby against Tottenham Hotspur - unless he is sent off - in the Gunners' first game after the international break, if he gets a yellow card in each of his next two outings then he will be suspended for the big game against Liverpool on October 9.
Therefore with it being essential that Jesus avoids having his name taken by referee David Coote at the Brentford Community Stadium, it would be in Arteta's best interests to perhaps have a word with his summer signing before kick-off, advising him to watch his step with regards to his tackling and dissent.
Alternatively, the Spaniard could hand Jesus a new role by naming him on the bench to almost guarantee he doesn't pick up yellow card number four. With that said, given how impressive the forward has been, it would be a major shock if the Gunners no.9 isn't named in the starting line-up.
With six games of the Premier League season gone, the Brazilian and the rest of Arteta's squad have another 13 gameweeks to avoid a suspension. Of course, with the campaign pausing in November for the winter World Cup and with Everton and Man City fixtures to be rearranged, it won't be until early next year when the Gunners reach the aforementioned cut-off point.
The next Arsenal players with the most yellow cards across the squad are William Saliba and Ben White on two. Meanwhile, Bukayo Saka, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Granit Xhaka and captain Martin Odegaard are all on one yellow card, so should be able to relax over the next few weeks.
READ NEXT:
Mikel Arteta calls up six youngsters to Arsenal training session as defender returns from injury
Every word Mikel Arteta said on Ben White, Zinchenko's fitness and Smith Rowe's injury
Emile Smith Rowe offered assurances at Arsenal as Mikel Arteta reacts to latest injury setback
Mikel Arteta's growing Arsenal dilemma explains Edu's £7m bargain transfer fight with Man City
Edu's £25m gamble increases big potential Arsenal return amid William Saliba repeat success
