Key Arsenal player joins Kai Havertz as suspension worry ahead of Chelsea and Newcastle tests

Arsenal have been so focused on the league challenge of picking up maximum points in games that suspensions have perhaps crept up on the side after just eight games. The period from after the October international breakthrough to Christmas is the most likely time for players to miss games.

Premier League rulings mean that after a fifth yellow card is secured in five separate games then a player must miss the subsequent fixture. The exception to the rule is highlighted by Tottenham’s Yves Bissouma who picked up his fifth yellow card of the season at Luton Town but two were in the same game earning him a red and a one-match suspension.

He is effectively on four yellows and one card away from yet another missed game. Arsenal have avoided red cards barring Takehiro Tomiyasu’s at Crystal Palace for the better part of 18 months.

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Despite their previously deplorable record of suspensions at the start of Mikel Arteta’s tenure, the Gunners have been able to curb the slide and last season didn’t receive a single one. However, several players like Gabriel Jesus and William Saliba came very close to suspension but thankfully avoided it before the cut-off in winter when the five-yellow suspension ruling ended.

This season, not many players are at risk of reaching the five-card threshold. Ahead of Chelsea next week, just one player could receive their fourth yellow meaning they would be just one more away from missing a game which, if they receive one against both the Blues and Sheffield United they would miss the pivotal trip to Newcastle – the player in question is Kai Havertz.

Despite the German’s struggles for form and lack of goal