1 hour ago
25
Arsenal beat Inter in the UEFA Champions League at San Siro to qualify for the knockout stages earlier than any other club after making it six straight victories
Declan Rice and Mikel Merino will both miss Arsenal 's last Champions League match of the league phase against Kairat after receiving their third yellow cards in this year's competition during the 3-1 win over Inter Milan.
Three cautions lead to an automatic one-match suspension and mean the midfielders will be absent at Emirates Stadium next Wednesday. They were the only two Arsenal players booked at San Siro, with Merino the first after 78 minutes, before Rice's came in second-half stoppage time.
The latter has done well to avoid a ban until the Gunners have already qualified, having received bookings in both of their first two league-phase matches. He was yellow-carded seven minutes into their opening game against Athletic Club, then a second came late on in the 2-0 win over Olympiacos next time out.
Merino's bookings were also in consecutive matches during November. The first came 37 minutes into Arsenal's win away to Slavia Prague, and his next came late on in the 3-1 victory over Bayern Munich later that month.
FOLLOW OUR ARSENAL FB PAGE! Latest Gunners news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page
However, it does mean both players will have a matchless midweek between the Gunners' next two Premier League matches. Arsenal host Manchester United on Sunday, and then are away to Leeds United the following weekend.
Those are their final two league fixtures of this month before a busy February begins. It starts with the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Chelsea.
Premier League action then continues at home to Sunderland before moving across London against Brentford five days later. Next comes the FA Cup fourth round tie with Wigan Athletic.
The month then ends with a North London derby at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium the following week. Arsenal's next Champions League game will be during a six-match March, which would become seven if they progress to the FA Cup fifth round.
Arteta had Rice as an unused substitute in the Gunners' win away to Portsmouth in the previous round of the FA Cup. That game against Wigan looks like the only rest he will get next month, with their Carabao Cup semi-final still in the balance after a 3-2 first leg.
The most recent match Merino did not play in was the 0-0 draw with Liverpool earlier in January. However, he has not started a league match yet this year, with his starts coming against Inter and Portsmouth.
After playing the full 90 minutes in their win at San Siro, Merino said: "Obviously, football is not only about results. It's the main thing, but when you can enjoy playing with these teammates, it's just a joy, and I'm enjoying it every time I'm on the pitch.
"I think everyone is giving their best and enjoying as well, and that's the best mix we can have, so performing and enjoying is the magic recipe, so yeah, very happy." He also acknowledged that they aim to maintain their winning streak against Kairat in his absence.
Merino said: "It's the aim, it's the goal to win every game, now we have an amazing game in front of our fans, at home against Man United. But, yeah, we're focused on winning every game - it doesn't matter which competition, which rival, it's just about making Arsenal fans proud, and yeah, let's go for it again."
English (US) ·