Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is one yellow card away from a suspension, meaning he will be walking a disciplinary tightrope against Liverpool this weekend.
Arteta was booked by referee Tony Harrington during Arsenal's 2-0 win over Everton last Saturday, seemingly for leaving his technical area at the Emirates Stadium. It means the Spaniard has now been cautioned twice in eight Premier League matches.
Second booking of the season
His first yellow card came against Sunderland last month, also for leaving his technical area, as he reacted to refereeing decisions despite Arsenal winning at the Stadium of Light.
As a result, Arteta must watch his step on Sunday when the Gunners face Liverpool in a top-of-the-table showdown. A booking at Anfield would move him onto three yellow cards, which for managers guarantees a one-match suspension. He would then serve a touchline ban six days later at home to Hull in the final game before the November international break.
Disciplinary rules for managers
Just like for players, there is a cut-off point regarding bookings for managers. Arteta is at risk of a suspension for three bookings right up until the 32nd Premier League fixture of the season.
Reacting to his second yellow card of the domestic season, Arteta insisted other managers are far more culpable than he is.
"I do have to be careful," Arteta said in the post-Everton press conference. "I'm going to put sensors there. There are managers that have the record in the league, 36 times in 10 minutes leaving the touchline, no yellows. So I'm clipping all of that. I have a massive storage of images. So if somebody is going to say [anything], I'm not the record yet, somebody else has the record."
"Then it's 36 yellow cards in 10 minutes for the manager. I don't know where we're going to be."
Dowman ban confirmed
Arsenal have already been dealt one suspension blow going into the Liverpool game after losing an appeal to have Max Dowman's red card against Fleetwood overturned.
The 16-year-old was sent off for reacting to a forceful tackle from Harrison Neal during the closing stages of Tuesday night's Carabao Cup fourth round tie. Dowman must serve a three-match ban which begins away at Anfield this weekend.
