Arsenal suspension theory drops after double 'blow' for Mikel Arteta

Arsenal duo Mikel Merino and Declan Rice were both shown a yellow card each during the Champions League showdown against Inter Milan on Tuesday

Arsenal will be without Mikel Merino and Declan Rice for their final Champions League fixture in the league phase against Kairat next week. The Gunners maintained their 100 per cent record in this season's competition by beating Inter Milan 3-1 with a rotated XI on Tuesday.

Mikel Arteta made seven changes to the side that were held to a 0-0 draw against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Saturday, with Gabriel Jesus making his return to the starting line-up and scoring twice. Viktor Gyokeres came on as a second-half substitute and netted Arsenal's third goal to seal a seventh successive win in the Champions League and an automatic round of 16 place.

However, going into next Wednesday's league phase finale against Kazakhstan side Kairat, the Gunners won't be able to call on Merino and Rice after both players were booked in the second half.

Merino was given a yellow card in the 72nd minute for a late challenge on Federico Dimarco, while Rice was cautioned in stoppage-time for holding back his opponent.

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With that being their third bookings in the Champions League this season, their punishment is a one-game suspension. As a result, Merino and Rice won't be available to face Kairat.

But due to the timings of both yellow cards, some Arsenal fans have made a theory that Mikel Arteta told Merino and Rice to deliberately get booked so they can serve their suspension against Kairat.

"Declan Rice came on to intentionally collect that yellow card," one fan said. "You can’t convince me otherwise."

Another added: "Rice got that yellow card on purpose. If you know, you know. One of the reasons he came in. Arteta wants a clean record for him in the knockouts."

"Arteta and Declan Rice really planned the yellow card," he wrote. "Only legends know.

"I think Rice and Merino purposely got the yellow card," another said.

"Declan Rice and Merino got the yellow card on purpose. They know what they were doing," a fifth said.

A sixth person said: "I bet Rice was advice to hold someone and take yellow card to mid next match and same with Merino. Arteta Masterclass!!!"

"It was yellow card management," another said. "Both Merino and Rice needed to get booked in this game, be suspended for Kairat and then have a clean slate for the rest of the UCL. When does Rice hold a player like that? 2 arms round his waist. Same as Merino's yellow. Arteta mega brained it."

An eighth said: "Merino picks up a yellow card The most blatant yellow I've ever seen."

Merino and Rice will therefore serve their one-match ban against Kairat and then be available for the round of 16 first leg tie in March. From that point on, both players will need to be cautious of picking up a two-match ban, which will occur if either pick up more yellow cards before the quarter-final, should the Gunners get there.