Arsenal continued their push for the Premier League title on Wednesday night, securing a fairly straightforward 2-0 home win over struggling Luton Town.
The Gunners claimed a 0-0 draw at Manchester City on Sunday, frustrating Pep Guardiola’s side at the Etihad Stadium.
That was a chase of ‘job done’ for Arsenal, but they had to follow up that draw with goals and three points against Luton on Wednesday.
Mikel Arteta rotated his side and even left Bukayo Saka out – but it didn’t matter as Arsenal coasted to victory.
Martin Odegaard fired Arsenal ahead before a Daiki Hashioka own goal made it 2-0.
Arsenal took their foot off the gas and eased to another win, continuing their push for the Premier League crown this season.
Manchester City also won, beating Aston Villa 4-1, whilst Liverpool will take on Sheffield United on Thursday night.
Mikel Arteta surprised by Arsenal’s Kai Havertz
This was a largely positive night for Arsenal; three points, another clean sheet and a host of key players able to take something of a rest.
If there was one blot on the copy book for Arsenal, it may be that Kai Havertz picked up another yellow card.
The German was booked for diving in the second half and that was his final action of the game as Arteta substituted him.
Havertz has now picked up nine yellow cards this season and is one booking away from a two-game suspension.
Arteta noted in his post-game press conference – as shown by Hayters TV – that Havertz must be careful of he risks picking up that ban.
Arteta added that he is surprised by Havertz’s record of nine yellow cards, suggesting that he wouldn’t have been quite as shocked if it was some other players in the Arsenal squad racking up that many bookings.
The Spaniard added that he would have to go and look at some of Havertz’s cards to see if he really deserved all of them.
“Yeah, we have to be careful. Hopefully he doesn’t get booked anymore because with the 10th we know what happens,” said Arteta. “I am surprised! If that’s a different player… I don’t know, I will have to go back and look at those cards, but it’s something to improve. We don’t want our players to have that many and I think we are the best in the league on that. Something to improve,” he added.
When is the Premier League yellow card amnesty?
The end of the season is drawing ever closer and Arsenal won’t want to lose Havertz for two crucial games during the Premier League title run-in.
The Premier League yellow card amnesty arrives soon, as the rules state that the tallying bookings only count up until the 32nd gameweek.
‘Any player earning 10 bookings from his side’s first 32 Premier League matches will serve a two-match ban in the same competition’, the official Premier League website reads.
Arsenal have currently played 30 games, so Havertz just needs to avoid one more booking in his next two outings.
Arteta will be hammering home that message to Havertz, especially after a needless booking for diving when Arsenal were already 2-0 up.
Havertz cannot afford to make this kind of mistake again and he will be walking a tightrope in the next two Arsenal fixtures as he looks to avoid another caution.
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