Arsenal have been handed two huge early boosts ahead of their Champions League semi-final showdown with Atletico Madrid.
A nervy night at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday saw Arsenal keep Sporting at bay to draw 0-0 on the night, and win 1-0 on aggregate, to secure back-to-back Champions League semi-finals berths.
It was a tense affair, summed up by Mikel Arteta being booked and then, shortly afterwards, being seen screaming into his jumper as the clock ticked down.
But the Gunners head coach will wake up on Thursday knowing that his squad can be as strong as possible for the huge semi-final after his players all avoided suspensions for the tie.
Both Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard were at risk of suspension during the quarter-final second leg, with a single booking being enough to rule them out of the first leg against Atletico, which will be held at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid.
Zubimendi did not pick up a yellow card, but did pick up the man of the match award, after an assured performance in midfield.
UEFA regulations state that all yellow cards expire on completion of the quarter-finals, so every member of the squad now has a clean sheet ahead of the semi-finals and any possible final.
Official relegations state that “players and team officials are suspended for the next competition match after three cautions, which did not result in a red card, as well as following any subsequent odd-numbered caution (fifth, seventh, ninth, etc.).”
The only way a player will earn a suspension for the final is if they are sent off for violent conduct in the semi-final first leg - which results in a three-match ban - or shown a red card in the semi-final second leg - which results in a one-match ban.
