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Need to know
Arsenal will head to Manchester City in April for a Premier League showdown that could ultimately decide the title race, and both teams will want to be at full strength for the crunch match
Man City star Bernardo Silva is walking a suspension tightrope ahead of the clash with Arsenal next month
Everything you need to know about Bernardo Silva's risk of suspension ahead of Man City's title showdown with Arsenal...
- The current count: Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva earned his eighth yellow card of the season during the recent 2-1 victory over Newcastle United. Referee Thomas Bramall booked him for a sequence that involved both a tactical foul and verbal dissent, though was fortunate not be sent off.
- The suspension rule: Premier League regulations dictate that any player who accumulates 10 yellow cards within a season must serve a two-match ban. Silva is now just two bookings away from triggering this mandatory disciplinary absence.
- The reset deadline: These yellow card tallies only reset once a team has completed 32 matches in their league campaign. City has currently played 28 games, meaning Silva must stay disciplined through the next four fixtures.
- Upcoming schedule: To avoid a ban, Silva needs to navigate upcoming matches against Leeds, Nottingham Forest, West Ham, and Chelsea without reaching the 10-card limit. These four games represent the final stretch before the disciplinary record is cleared.
- The Arsenal threat: If Silva receives two more bookings before the reset, he will likely miss the crucial title-deciding clash against Arsenal on April 18. This 33rd game of the season is viewed as a "crunch" fixture that could determine the league winner.
- Competition specifics: Fortunately for Manchester City, Premier League yellow cards do not carry over into domestic cup competitions like the FA Cup or Carabao Cup. This means Silva remains eligible for the upcoming cup final and FA Cup fixtures regardless of his league booking status.
- Impact on the title race: Silva’s high-level performances have been essential in keeping Manchester City neck-and-neck with Arsenal at the top of the table. Manager Pep Guardiola has publicly expressed his desire for the midfielder to sign a new contract to stay at the club.
- Contract uncertainty: The 31-year-old’s current deal is set to expire at the end of this season, making his future at the Etihad Stadium uncertain. Major clubs including Benfica, Juventus, and Chicago Fire are reportedly interested in signing him on a free transfer.
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