Advertisement

Arsenal are one game away from suspension blow amid anxious Mikel Arteta wait

bruna reis
·2-min read
Gabriel Jesus receives a yellow card.
-Credit: (Image: Alex Pantling/Getty Images)


As Arsenal returned to winning ways with a 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest in the Premier League, Mikel Arteta was handed a selection headache ahead of his side's next game at West Ham.

The hosts took the lead through Bukayo Saka after the England international combined with Martin Odegaard on the edge of the area. That pair could have scored more goals before the break with Leandro Trossard also coming close to getting on the score-sheet.

But it wasn't until the second half that Arteta's side doubled their lead, as substitute Thomas Partey curled home with style from the edge of the box. The result was then sealed by another substitute - youngster Ethan Nwaneri - as he scored his first ever Premier League goal.

READ MORE: What Arsenal star Ethan Nwaneri did straight after scoring speaks volumes for Mikel Arteta

READ MORE: Arsenal next five fixtures compared to Liverpool and Man City after return to top form

The victory sees Arsenal climb to fourth spot, just two points behind Manchester City, who were ready to take on Tottenham on Saturday evening. With six league games to come between now and the new year, Arteta will need as many players as possible at his disposal during the hectic run of fixtures.

However, there is some concern surrounding the status of Gabriel Jesus. The Brazilian, who made his second start of the season, also picked up his fourth booking.

Jesus fouled Nicolas Dominguez in the first half after losing the ball and was punished for his action. He's now one booking away from a suspension.

If any player picks up five bookings in the first 19 matches of the season, they will receive a one-match ban. As a result, the 27-year-old has seven games to get through unscathed if he's to escape a ban before the cut-off.

Jorginho (3), Jurrien Timber (3), Kai Havertz (2), Thomas Partey (2), David Raya (2), Bukayo Saka (2), Declan Rice (2), William Saliba (2) and Ben White (2) are among the players who have bookings to their name so far this campaign.