Arsenal: Declan Rice and Mikel Merino face Champions League ban amid fresh suspension risk for last-16 tie | OneFootball

Norgaard is a booking away from an automatic one-match ban as yellow cards are not wiped until after the quarter-finals

Suspended: Mikel Arteta cannot call upon Declan Rice when Arsenal host Kairat in the Champions League

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Arsenal will be without Mikel Merino and Declan Rice for their final league phase match of the Champions League against Kairat next week.

Mikel Arteta made seven changes to the side that were held to a goalless draw by Nottingham Forest at the weekend, with Gabriel Jesus marking his return to the starting lineup with two goals.

Viktor Gyokeres climbed off the bench to seal the victory as Arsenal made is seven wins from seven in the league phase, sealing a round of 16 place and a top-two finish with a game to spare.

Unfortunately for the Gunners, there was a couple of negatives on what was otherwise a perfect night in the San Siro as both Merino and Rice were shown yellow cards in the second half.

With that being their third bookings in the Champions League, their punishment is a one-game suspension.

As a result, Merino and Rice will be unavailable for selection when Arsenal welcome Kazakhstan's Kairat to the Emirates Stadium next Wednesday.

Mikel Merino will not play for Arsenal against Kairat in the Champions League next week

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While the Gunners they do have strength in depth to cope with the absences of both midfielders, Christian Norgaard - who will be in line for a rare start - is a also a suspension risk.

The summer signing from Brentford has been shown a yellow card in both of his Champions League starts against Slavia Prague and Club Brugge.

As yellow cards in the Champions League are not reset until after the quarter-final stage, it means another booking for Norgaard against Kairat would see him banned for the round of 16 first-leg in March.