Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has stressed the need for discipline as his league-leading side prepares to host Brighton & Hove Albion at the Emirates Stadium this Saturday, keen to avoid a repeat of last season's controversial sending-off of midfielder Declan Rice.
Learning from Last Season's Costly Mistake
The Spanish coach admitted he was "very pissed off" with the incident during the corresponding fixture last campaign. Arsenal were leading 1-0 when Rice received a second yellow card for delaying a restart, a decision that sparked much debate. The Gunners subsequently dropped two precious points in a 1-1 draw.
"I remember it very well," Arteta reflected. "We paid a big price for that rule. And hopefully that stays away and we continue to play with 11 players." He added that he is hopeful the situation will be "very different" this time around, partly due to adjustments in the interpretation of the rules.
Title Race Context and Team News
The match carries significant weight in the tight Premier League title race. Arsenal currently sit just two points clear of second-placed Manchester City. Pep Guardiola's team play Nottingham Forest earlier on Saturday and could temporarily go top by one point if they win, piling pressure on Arteta's men.
On a positive note, German attacker Kai Havertz is nearing a return. The 26-year-old, who has been out since the season's opener after right knee surgery, returned to training last week. "He was quite close and it will be a matter of days," Arteta revealed, highlighting that Havertz "brings another dimension to the team."
However, winger Gabriel Martinelli faces a late fitness test after picking up a knee injury in the midweek League Cup win over Crystal Palace.
Discipline a Key Focus for Improved Arsenal
Rice's dismissal was one of six red cards shown to Arsenal players in the Premier League last season, a statistic the club has dramatically improved this term. They are yet to have a player sent off in the current campaign, a fact Arteta will be desperate to maintain as they navigate a critical period in the season.
The manager's comments underscore a strategic focus on composure and game management, essential qualities for a team with its sights firmly set on the championship.
