Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva is walking a disciplinary tightrope as he approaches a potential two-game suspension. The Portuguese international has received nine yellow cards this Premier League season, leaving him just one booking away from triggering a ban.
Under Premier League rules, players who accumulate 10 yellow cards in their first 32 league matches face an automatic two-match suspension. Silva's next caution would see him miss City's upcoming fixtures against Burnley and Everton, both crucial matches in the title race.
City face Arsenal on Sunday in a pivotal top-of-the-table clash, with the Blues trailing the Gunners by six points but holding a game in hand. A victory at the Etihad could see Pep Guardiola's side leapfrog Arsenal into first place if they also beat Burnley midweek.
If Silva avoids a booking against Arsenal, the threshold for a ban rises to 15 yellow cards. He remains eligible for the FA Cup semi-final against Southampton, as Premier League cautions do not carry over to domestic cup competitions.
No other City player is close to a suspension, with Nico Gonzalez and Gianluigi Donnarumma next on six yellow cards each. Silva announced this week that he will leave City when his contract expires in the summer.
