Jamie Carragher believes that Arsenal “should be doing more” in games in which they have a player sent off and says “great title-winning teams” still get the job done with 10 men.
Arsenal suffered their first defeat of the season against Bournemouth on Saturday after losing William Saliba to a red card in the first half.
The Gunners have now dropped seven points in the three games in which they have had a player dismissed this season, drawing 1-1 with Brighton and 2-2 with Manchester City before going down 2-0 at Bournemouth.
Those results have dented their latest Premier League title bid and Carragher said: “They should be doing more in those games. They have gone really defensive.”
Arsenal have had 17 matches with a red card since Arteta was appointed as manager in 2019 – six more than any other of their ‘big six’ rivals.
The Gunners have managed 0.94 points per game in those fixtures in which they have gone down to 10 men.
In comparison, Tottenham have managed 1.44 points per game from the nine times they have had a man sent off, while Manchester City and Liverpool both have 1.33 points per game.
Speaking on Monday Night Football, Sky Sports pundit Carragher said: “I get the Man City game, but can they do more with 10 men? You can still win! But they have dropped points every game.
“Great teams who have won league titles have still won with 10 men.
“Their biggest problem isn’t points, it’s how often they get red cards. This has to stop. If you keep getting red cards, you aren’t going to pull it back.”
Saliba’s red card means the centre-back is suspended for Sunday’s huge Premier League showdown with leaders Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium.
Arteta, whose side have won all five top-flight games in which they have kept 11 men on the pitch this season, has said he believes the best way for Arsenal to solve their discipline problem is by not talking about it.
