Mikel Arteta has admitted Arsenal do have a discipline problem - and warned it could cost them the title.

Arsenal have had 18 red cards in the Premier League since Arteta took charge in December 2019 which includes three in eight games this season. Wolves and Everton are joint-second with 13.

They are unlikely to appeal William Saliba's sending-off against Bournemouth which led to their first defeat of the season. They have won all five games they have finished with 11 men but dropped points in the three games in which they had players sent off.

Gunners boss Arteta, whose side says it is a problem they have to solve, although he warned talking about it could even up making it worse.

"When you play with 10 men for 65 minutes, the task becomes almost impossible. So, we need to eradicate that. It's clear why, the reason and how, it doesn't matter. We have to focus and it has to happen.

"The most effective way, I have to be very honest, is not talking about it. Because we tried and we showed and we talked and we repeated the message that we had to play with 11 and it happened again after a week or after three weeks and they said: 'Guys, let's try something else.' And then it disappeared.

William Saliba is available for Tuesday night's clash with Shakhtar Donetsk ( Image:

Regarding the decision to appeal Saliba's dismissal, Arteta insisted he would not be the person making the final decision. He said: "I leave that more to the club to understand the circumstances. They will have to decide it."

Saliba will be available for Tuesday night's Champions League encounter with Shakhtar Donetsk, before missing the Premier League clash against Liverpool at the weekend. Bukayo Saka appears a long shot to be included in midweek, with the England international absent from Tuesday's session, along with defender Jurrien Timber.

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