Arsenal head into the festive period knowing they need to put together a winning run to keep themselves in the Premier League title race.
The Gunners sit six points behind leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand, but a more generous run of fixtures, starting at home to Everton this weekend, offers Mikel Arteta’s side the chance to gain some momentum.
Injuries remain a problem, particularly in defence as Gabriel, Riccardo Calafiori, Ben White, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Oleksandr Zinchenko are among those currently on the sidelines.
Arteta will hope his issues will not be added to by any suspensions in the coming weeks, with such a hectic period ahead.
Which Arsenal players are close to a suspension?
Players who pick up five yellow cards in the first 19 Premier League matches of the season will receive a one-match ban. The threshold for a suspension after that point in the campaign is raised to 10 bookings after 32 matches.
Arsenal’s match against Brentford on New Year’s Day is the final game in which suspensions will be handed out for a fifth yellow card.
Concern: Key Arsenal trio Declan Rice, Jurrien Timber and Bukayo Saka are all carrying three yellow cards
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Gabriel Jesus, despite only starting twice in the Premier League this season, has picked up four bookings and so is just one more away from picking up a ban.
More of a concern to Arteta will be that Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice are among those on three. Should either of them pick up two yellow cards across matches against Everton, Crystal Palace, Ipswich and Brentford, they will be suspended.
Jorginho and Jurrien Timber also have three to their name as it stands, with the likes of Kai Havertz, David Raya and William Saliba having more breathing room on two.
Four yellow cards: Gabriel Jesus
Three yellow cards: Jorginho, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Jurrien Timber
