**Arsenal's Disciplinary Woes Could Hinder Title Challenge Ahead of Key Liverpool Clash** Mikel Arteta faces a significant challenge as he prepares for a crucial match against league leaders Arne Slot's Liverpool, with poor discipline emerging as a pressing concern for his Arsenal side. For those seeking comfort in the club's history, Arteta might reflect on the era of Arsène Wenger. The legendary French manager, who recently celebrated his 75th birthday, is fondly remembered for transforming player fitness and nutrition, effectively ending the notorious Tuesday drinking club. However, during each of the three Premier League titles he secured, Arsenal recorded at least three red cards, showcasing a tenacity reminiscent of George Graham's championship-winning teams. A notable incident occurred on September 29, 2001, when Martin Keown was sent off against Derby for two yellow cards, the first for "preventing a quick free-kick"—a lesson for players like Declan Rice. While Arteta's squad hasn't reached that level of indiscipline, they have faced challenges of their own. William Saliba's red card in the recent defeat to Bournemouth marked a continuation of a troubling trend: Arsenal has only dropped points this season when reduced to ten men. As the team gears up for the pivotal clash against Liverpool, Arteta must address these disciplinary issues to keep their title hopes alive.

Kluivert seals Bournemouth victory from the penalty spot as Arsenal lament Saliba's red card Arsenal's recent trend of accumulating red cards finally caught up with them, leading to their first defeat of the season. Mikel Arteta's team, which had been unbeaten until now, faced a setback when William Saliba was sent off—marking their third dismissal in just eight league matches. Bournemouth capitalized on this opportunity, celebrating a notable win thanks to goals from substitutes Ryan Christie and Justin Kluivert. It was a memorable night for Bournemouth's manager, Andoni Iraola, as his dynamic squad achieved their first victory against a top-half team since defeating Manchester United last December. The win was particularly sweet for Iraola, given his history with Arteta, as they both played for the same youth team in San Sebastian. Arsenal, missing the influential Bukayo Saka for the trip to the south coast, struggled to find inspiration even before Saliba's red card shifted the momentum of the match. The defeat meant they missed the chance to climb to the top of the table, with Liverpool and Manchester City not playing until Sunday, and it marked Arsenal's first away loss of 2024.