Two players from Manchester United are just one yellow card away from a one-match suspension, which could prevent them from participating in next month’s encounter with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners are set to host their Premier League rivals in a midweek match on December 4.
Each team has two matches prior to that game, with Mikel Arteta’s squad taking on Nottingham Forest and West Ham United, while the Old Trafford side faces Ipswich Town and Everton before heading to North London. United players Kobbie Mainoo and Lisandro Martinez are in danger of a one-match ban since they have already received four yellow cards this season. If either player receives a yellow card against Ipswich, they will be available to play against the Gunners, but a caution in the game against Everton would lead to their suspension during the match against Arteta’s team.
Both players are dealing with injuries and may not play against Ipswich this weekend, especially after Martinez was sent home from international duty with Argentina, as his national coach Lionel Scaloni indicated that the defender is experiencing back issues. Meanwhile, Mainoo has not played since suffering a muscle injury during a 0-0 draw with Aston Villa in October. Before the international break, caretaker United manager Ruud van Nistelrooy mentioned that the midfielder was showing signs of improvement in his recovery.
“Kobbie is making strides in his injury recovery and taking the right steps, but he’s not yet rejoining the team; he still needs a bit more time,” Van Nistelrooy noted when updating on Mainoo ahead of the international matches.
According to Premier League disciplinary regulations, any player who gathers five yellow cards before match week 19 will face a one-match suspension. Accumulating 10 yellow cards before match week 32 will lead to a two-match ban. The penalties for five or 10 yellow cards apply specifically to the Premier League and cannot be served in either the FA Cup or League Cup. Arsenal has experienced a few disciplinary suspensions this season, but these have been due to red cards, with players like Declan Rice and William Saliba being sent off this season.
No Arsenal players are currently at immediate risk of suspension due to an excessive number of yellow cards, with Gabriel Jesus and Jurrien Timber each having received three cautions—an amount no other Arsenal player has matched.
