Arsenal have decided not to appeal William Saliba’s red card from their 2-0 Premier League loss to Bournemouth last Saturday.
Saliba was sent off in the 30th minute for bringing down Bournemouth striker Evanilson, who was through on goal.
Despite being reduced to 10 men, Arsenal went on to concede goals from Ryan Christie and Justin Kluivert, marking their third red card of the season after dismissals of Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard.
Reports from The Times and The Guardian confirm that Arsenal have opted against contesting the decision, meaning Saliba will miss the crucial Premier League clash against Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium this Sunday.
Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta addressed the incident ahead of their Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk, acknowledging the impact of playing with a man down and emphasizing the need for discipline.
He stressed that despite analyzing the different circumstances leading to the red cards, the team must avoid further dismissals at this level of competition.
Saliba’s absence is a significant blow to Arsenal’s defense, especially in the buildup to a key match against Liverpool, a team currently fighting for a top-four position.
Arteta’s concerns about the team’s disciplinary record reflect a broader issue, with 18 red cards issued to Arsenal players since he took over as manager in December 2019.
Arteta mentioned that previous attempts to address the issue through internal discussions and reminders had not been successful, as the red card trend has continued.
He admitted that perhaps other strategies might need to be tried, noting that the problem had temporarily subsided in the past, only to reappear recently.
Saliba, who has been a crucial part of Arsenal’s backline this season, will be a notable absence in the Liverpool game.
Arteta now faces the challenge of reorganizing his defense to cope with the formidable attacking threat that Liverpool brings.
The team will need to adjust quickly to ensure that they can continue to compete at the highest level without further disciplinary setbacks.