After a loose pass, Ben White slid in on Diogo Jota and found himself on a yellow card with at least 67 minutes of normal time to play and what would eventually turn into 78 minutes after both stoppages. The yellow defined the England international’s display, which looked slightly nervous and pressured at times.
White has been a critical part of the Arsenal title challenge and for many has been the league’s best in his position with only Kieran Trippier for company. However, his presence in this team has now come under intense pressure due to a double injury blow.
William Saliba and Takehiro Tomiyasu, the latter of whom is out for the season after a knee ligament injury, have placed White in an area where he has to play the majority of all the remaining games. With Saliba out the likelihood would have been White moving into right centre-half and Tomiyasu playing right-back but that wasn’t possible.
READ MORE: Manchester City should worry as Arsenal go to Anfield like few others to show title ambition
Hopefully, Saliba will return soon from his back injury, with no exact timeframe yet determined. An injury to White or a suspension would be a disaster.
Some supporters were concerned yesterday that the yellow card picked up at Anfield had done exactly that. The caution was his fifth of the season meaning that a one-game suspension would come into effect however this was only the case up to the 19th game of the Premier League season.
If a player picks up their fifth from the 20th game onwards it incurs no suspension. However, should a player reach ten yellow cards they will miss two games.
After the 32nd game of the season, the two-match suspension for the tenth yellow card no longer applies which is in just two games time for the Gunners, meaning White cannot receive this type of ban this season. Of course, if he were to get a red card, either by two yellows or a straight sending off he would receive a one or three-match ban.
Bukayo Saka has the most yellow cards this season with six. With Granit Xhaka now also on five.
White needs to be more careful, although some felt the booking was harsh having got the ball, but a two-footed lunge will always give the referee a chance to book the player. White is sure to look better when Saliba returns but that cannot excuse the mistakes we saw yesterday and hopefully, he will return to his best form we’ve seen for much of the season.
READ NEXT:
Who is Manchester City's game in-hand against after Arsenal Premier League title race turn
Man City star Joao Cancelo fires message to Gabriel Jesus after Arsenal suffer title race blow
William Saliba, Eddie Nketiah: Arsenal injury news and return dates after Liverpool clash
Xhaka revives Anfield, Arteta’s lesson and Ramsdale - Arsenal’s winners and losers at Liverpool
Arsenal news and transfers LIVE: All the latest news, views and rumours from the Emirates Stadium
