Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta said his team “cannot continue to play with ten men” in the wake of William Saliba’s red card against Bournemouth.
The French centre-back was sent off in the first half against the Cherries and the Gunners lost 2-0 – their first defeat of the Premier League season.
He is the third Arsenal player to be sent off this season, after midfielder Declan Rice was sent off against Brighton and striker Leandro Trossard was sent off in the draw with Manchester City.
Arteta, whose team conceded goals in all three matches in which the number of players was reduced to 10 men, said: “Playing with ten players, there is always a problem.”
“The truth is that when you analyze it, you find three completely different actions and their consequences, and the causes are completely different.
“Regardless of that, we cannot continue to play with ten men, especially at this level.
“We need to eliminate it, that’s clear. The whys and the hows – it doesn’t matter. We have to focus and it has to happen.”
Since Arteta’s first match as Arsenal manager on 26 December 2019, the Gunners have received 18 red cards – five more than any other Premier League team in that period.
Saliba will miss Liverpool’s home match on Sunday, but he may participate in Arsenal’s match against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Former Blackburn and Chelsea striker Chris Sutton says Arsenal’s poor discipline could cost them in the Premier League title race.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Monday Night Club programme, Sutton said: “It’s worrying if they want to be seen as serious rivals to Manchester City and Liverpool, just on the fringe of winning or losing the title.”
“I felt sympathy for Saliba but I thought it was a red card and it was because of Trossard’s pass. It was an honest attempt to come back but there was closeness, it was a red card and more points wereted.
“In a title race, you can’t give your rivals the advantage.”
