Arsenal have several players walking the disciplinary tightrope in Wednesday night’s Champions League quarter-final second leg tie against Real Madrid.
UEFA rules stipulate that players will be handed a one-match suspension should they receive three bookings before tallies reset after the quarter-finals, and some key Arsenal players are at risk of missing a potential semi-final first leg should they be shown a yellow card at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Discipline has already been something of an issue for Mikel Arteta’s side this campaign, as on loan winger Raheem Sterling was suspended for the first leg win over the holders.
Among those in danger of a suspension is two-goal first leg hero Declan Rice, who was booked in a league phase tie away to Girona and the emphatic round of 16 drubbing of PSV Eindhoven.
Given his physicality and leadership, the England international would be sorely missed should he be suspended for a possible semi-final first leg against either Paris Saint-Germain or Aston Villa.
Similarly integral defender Jurrien Timber has to be careful after picking up bookings against Dinamo Zagreb and PSV. Worryingly, the Dutchman has been shown a yellow card more times this season than any other Arsenal player having been booked nine times in 44 appearances.
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Gabriel Martinelli is the third Gunner facing a suspension. The winger has struggled for impact this season, managing just seven goals in 42 appearances, with one goal and one assist in nine Champions League matches this year. He picked up two bookings in league phase in a 1-0 win over Shakhtar and 3-0 win over Monaco.
Thomas Partey - an injury doubt for the game - is the fourth, and final, Arsenal player that is in danger of missing a possible Champions League semi-final first leg after being shown a yellow card in the early stages of the second half last week.
After a dominant first leg win, Gunners travel to Spain looking to finish the job and keep hopes alive of claiming a piece of silverware this season.
