Arsenal fans have wondered whether Declan Rice is suspended this weekend (Image: Getty)
star has technically received five yellow cards in the Premier League this season – but the midfielder will not serve a one-match ban when the Gunners host this weekend.
Fans of the north Londoners have been questioning whether Rice will be suspended for the crunch top-flight clash. The confusion exists due to the two yellow cards the 25-year-old received in the same game against Brighton.
Rice was sent off for the first time in his career when drew 1-1 with Brighton in August. He was booked in either half, with his fate sealed as he delayed a restart four minutes into the second period.
However, when players receive two yellow cards in a game, they simply count as a red card on their disciplinary record – not two yellows.
Rice has therefore only received three yellow cards in the this season. He has four league matches to navigate without a further suspension. Players receiving five yellow cards up to and including matchweek 19 receive a one-match ban.
Yellow cards are then effectively wiped, although players who receive 10 bookings up to and including matchweek 32 are banned for two matches. Fifteen bookings leads to a player sitting out for three games.
will not yet be worried about Rice potentially receiving a ban. However, forward Gabriel Jesus will walk a disciplinary tightrope against Everton this weekend.
The Brazilian has been booked four times this season and will miss ’s visit to Crystal Palace if he receives another yellow card against the Toffees.
will have greater concerns with a mini-injury crisis wiping out many of his defensive options. The Spaniard hopes to have Gabriel back alongside William Saliba this weekend after missing three matches through injury.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is facing mounting absences (Image: Getty)
However, and Oleksandr Zinchenko remain absent. Arteta said: “We’re just respecting the times that the medical department has set. Then we monitor his evolution every single day. We understand he’s not fully ready yet, but he’s getting very close now.”
Myles Lewis-Skelly impressed in a left-back role against Monaco on Tuesday. On his full Champions League debut, the 18-year-old played a pivotal role in ’s first-half goal.
The academy graduate looked at ease and Arteta has not ruled out handing him a first start. “He certainly deserves to be in contention to be selected because he performed and competed really well,” the boss said.
“At his age to show that maturity and personality is strange. Off the pitch is the same. He’s a person that continuously surprises all the staff with the kind of questions that he’s capable of asking. That tells you that Myles is a really bright boy.”