April 3rd 2024.
During Arsenal's recent win over Luton, Kai Havertz received his 11th yellow card of the season, much to the surprise of manager Mikel Arteta. Despite his high number of bookings, Havertz has become a crucial player for the Gunners in their pursuit of the Premier League title, having initially struggled to find his footing at the Emirates.
In their match against Luton, Havertz once again showed his worth by assisting Martin Odegaard for the opening goal. However, his otherwise excellent performance was marred by a yellow card for diving in the 66th minute. This booking was particularly costly as it marked his 11th of the season and his eighth in the league. Should he receive another yellow card in their upcoming games against Brighton and Aston Villa, Havertz will face a two-game suspension.
Arteta expressed his concern over this situation in his post-match press conference, stating, "We have to be careful with Kai. Hopefully, he won't get booked again because we know the consequences of reaching the 10th yellow card." The manager was also taken aback by Havertz's disciplinary record, admitting, "If it was another player, maybe I wouldn't be as surprised, but with him, yes."
The manager further elaborated on the team's need to improve their disciplinary record, saying, "I will have to review those yellow cards, and if they are justified, then we need to work on it because we pride ourselves on having the best disciplinary record in the league." Indeed, Arsenal currently have the fewest number of yellow cards in the Premier League this season, with only 44 so far. However, they have also had two players sent off, Fabio Vieira and Takehiro Tomiyasu.
Havertz's absence has proven to be costly for Arsenal in the past, with the team losing a game 2-0 to West Ham when he was suspended for accumulating five yellow cards. With the title race heating up, the Gunners cannot afford to lose him now. As the season enters its final stages, every player's availability is crucial, and Arsenal will need Havertz to continue performing as they aim to secure the Premier League title.
On a brighter note, despite his disciplinary issues, Havertz has been a reliable presence for Arsenal this season, only missing one game due to suspension. This consistency is a testament to his importance to the team and his improvement since his shaky start at the club. As the Gunners continue to push for the title, they will need Havertz's contributions on the field and his discipline off it.
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