Disciplinary issues becoming recurring theme for Arsenal amid faltering title pursuit | OneFootball

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta recently addressed his team’s nasty habit of picking up red cards following another incident against Bournemouth at the weekend.

Referee Robert Jones sent off William Saliba for a reckless challenge on Evanilson midway through the first half, condemning the Gunners to play with ten men for over an hour.

Bournemouth converted a numerical advantage into a 2-0 victory at the Vitality Stadium, ending Arsenal’s unbeaten start in the Premier League with their first home win against them since 2018.

Losing was the least of Arteta’s problems, as falling a man down has become a theme for Arsenal this season.

Saliba’s red card was Arsenal’s third in only eight league matches in 2024/25 and their 18th overall since Arteta assumed the reins in December 2019.

The nearest Premier League club in that sequence got five less, suggesting it’s a pattern rather than an isolated case.

Discipline has been a recurring problem under the Spanish manager, with the Gunners often finding themselves at a disadvantage due to sending-offs.

Manager’s View

Asked to provide an update on this concerning trend, Arteta admitted it’s an issue but conceded he’s no longer discussing this disturbing subject in the dressing room.

“Playing with ten men, ­obviously there is an issue,” the 42-year-old said in his press conference ahead of Arsenal’s game against Shakhtar Donetsk.

“The truth is when you analyse the three very different actions and the outcome of them, the reasons are very different.

“Regardless of that, we cannot continue to play with ten men, especially at this level. We need to eradicate that.

“It’s clear why, the reason, and how doesn’t matter. We have to focus, and it has to happen. The most ­effective way, I have to be very ­honest, is not talking about it.

“Because we tried, we showed and we talked. We repeated the message that we had to play with eleven, and it happened again after a week or three weeks.”

Point Leakage

Arsenal have struggled to handle these situations.

Saturday’s defeat was their first, but they had only gathered two points from two previous similar occasions this term.

While Arteta’s ‘dark arts’ helped the Gunners to a frustrating 2-2 draw against Manchester City, Brighton & Hove Albion’s profligacy spared Arsenal’s blushes in late August.

It’s worth noting that Arteta’s men were ahead at half-time both times, but they paid a hefty price for surrendering a numerical advantage to their opposition down the line.

Those three matches remain the Gunners’ only winless league outings in 2024/25, and they all share a common theme – a lack of discipline and composure.

Concerning Pattern

Arsenal’s overwhelming desire to halt a two-decade Premier League title drought seems to be consuming them from within.

This pressure has manifested in lapses in discipline, with costly red cards derailing their momentum early in the season.

If the Gunners can’t channel their ambitions into more controlled performances, their title hopes may slip away once again.

However, instead of wrestling with the issue, Arteta’s men are doubling down on his aggressive approach, making things worse.

Rather than addressing the root of the problem, the Gunners continue to find themselves hampered by reckless decisions that undermine their pursuit of a long-awaited title.

Psychological Aspect

Arsenal players must make sure their bid to win the title doesn’t become their undoing by letting the pressure affect their decision-making on the pitch.

At the end of the day, it’s all in Arteta’s hands. He’s responsible for his side’s actions.

Saliba’s mindless tackle was an act of a desperate man more than a tactical decision.

That’s not to mention Leandro Trossard’s erratic behaviour at the Etihad Stadium, which left Arsenal hanging out to dry.

They cannot go on like this.