Mikel Arteta will serve a sideline ban when Southampton host Arsenal on the final day of the Premier League season. The Spaniard was shown his third yellow card of the campaign during the Gunners’ clash against Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Shortly after the Magpies were awarded a throw-in, Arteta passed a ball onto the pitch. The Arsenal manager was adjudged to have delayed the restart by Simon Hooper, the on-field referee, so he was given a caution
Having picked up his third booking of the season, he must now serve a one-match ban. Arteta will not be permitted on the sidelines when Southampton welcome the north Londoners to St. Mary’s Stadium on Sunday, May 25.
Ironically, Arteta warned Myles Lewis-Skelly about his discipline earlier this term. Speaking to reporters following Arsenal’s 7-1 thrashing of PSG Eindhoven in the UEFA Champions League, he told the teenager to ‘learn his lesson’ and avoid becoming a ‘liability’.
On Lewis-Skelly, who was booked moments before a late lunge and was fortunate not to receive a second yellow card, Arteta said: “I think it was quite clear that we had a liability there with the yellow card and the next action so it wasn’t the moment to take any risk.
“We have learned from that experience managing the game for so long, especially with how important this competition is so a lesson to learn for him for sure. We will support and help him
“But the line is really thin in this sport and he needs to understand that. He is very intelligent, he is very demanding of himself. Straight away his reaction was like that, he is a perfectionist, he has got a great environment around him. And he is here to learn as well.”
Predicted Arsenal line up
David Raya, Lewis Skelly, Kiwior,Saliba,Ben White, Partey, Declan Rice, Ødegaard,Saka,Havertz, Martinelli
