Two Arsenal stars facing nightmare suspension scenario as Mikel Arteta braced for huge blow

Mikel Arteta could be without two key Arsenal stars against AFC Bournemouth in the New Year if the worst-case suspension scenario plays out.

Arsenal players Martin Zubimendi and Viktor Gyokeres are both at risk of a ban over the busy Christmas period. Following their Carabao Cup tie against Crystal Palace, the Gunners face Brighton, Aston Villa, Bournemouth and Liverpool in the space of 12 days.

Mikel Arteta's team overcame Everton this past weekend with Gyokeres on target from the penalty spot. In the second half, he picked up his third yellow card of the Premier League season and is now just two bookings away from serving a one-match ban.

Zubimendi is in a similar boat as he sits on three cautions after 17 matches played. One positive for Arteta is that those two players would have to receive yellows against both Brighton and Villa to be slapped with a ban as the threshold extends to 10 yellow cards following Game Week 19.

If that nightmare scenario does play out, Declan Rice could move into a deeper role to replace Zubimendi or Christian Norgaard could come into the starting XI. As for Gyokeres, Mikel Merino has proven he is more than capable of filling in up top.

Gabriel Jesus is another option that Arteta can now turn to following his long-awaited return from injury. Arteta has been full of praise for the Brazil international in recent days after some bright cameos.

He said: "No [I'm not surprised he's looked sharp], because I was watching when he was seven months already on the pitch and the way he was moving and how much he wanted it.

"I think he wrote a beautiful letter there explaining what football means to him and how it affects his life. I think it was something beautiful.

On how different he is to Merino, and Gyokeres, Arteta added: "I think that's probably the biggest quality of Gabi, bringing people together, connecting with people and generating a lot of uncertainty in the opponent.

"When you see him today, the amount of spaces that he was involved in, that's his biggest quality. So we need to exploit that."

Zubimendi has already been forced to miss one game this season due to an accumulation of yellow cards in the Champions League, while Italy star Riccardo Calafiori was unavailable for the win against Wolves - after notching five cautions.

Jurrien Timber and Myles Lewis-Skelly are both on two cautions for the league season, so far, and therefore will only be banned if they are sent off.

As for Arsenal's title rivals Manchester City, Bernardo Silva, Nico Gonzalez and Gianluigi Donnarumma are all one yellow card away from being suspended while Phil Foden is on three cautions.

There is a scenario where all four players get booked away at Sunderland and are therefore unavailable for their clash against Chelsea in 2026.

Boubacar Kamara and Matty Cash are the main suspension risks for Unai Emery's Aston Villa and bookings for both against Chelsea later this week will result in bans for the trip to Arsenal. Villa captain John McGinn meanwhile, is on three yellow cards this campaign so far.