{"id":3638,"date":"2026-04-08T12:10:50","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T12:10:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/?p=3638"},"modified":"2026-04-08T12:10:50","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T12:10:50","slug":"two-arsenal-stars-at-risk-of-champions-league-ban-ahead-of-sporting-clash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/?p=3638","title":{"rendered":"Two Arsenal stars at risk of Champions League ban ahead of Sporting clash"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_09e96c\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">Arsenal go into the Champions League quarter-final against Sporting Lisbon with the likes of Martin Zubimendi facing the danger of another suspension if he&#8217;s booked<\/h2>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36981120\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Martin Zubimendi needs to avoid a yellow card against Sporting Lisbon if he wants to dodge a suspension\" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36981120.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_GettyImages-2236100015.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36981120.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/0_GettyImages-2236100015.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36981120.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/0_GettyImages-2236100015.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36981120.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_GettyImages-2236100015.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Martin Zubimendi needs to avoid a yellow card against Sporting Lisbon if he wants to dodge a suspension\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Martin Zubimendi needs to avoid a yellow card against Sporting Lisbon if he wants to dodge a suspension<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Arsenal have two stars facing the prospect of a Champions League suspension if they pick up a yellow card during the quarter-final against Sporting Lisbon.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard are one booking away from having to sit out a European game, which may stretch the team&#8217;s resources. Norgaard has very much been a squad player under Mikel Arteta, but Zubimendi has been far more regular and influential.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Norgaard was booked twice during league phase against Slavia Prague and Club Brugge &#8211; a third would force him to miss a game. Zubimendi has already served a Champions League ban this season having picked up yellow cards against Athletic Club, Olympiacos and Atletico Madrid.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">That meant he missed the game in Prague and, after being booked against Bayer Leverkusen, he is facing the prospect of a fifth yellow card.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">UEFA\u2019s rules state: &#8220;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.)&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><span data-testid=\"readmore\" class=\"ReadMore_readmore-prefix__xS44r __className_4f362a\">READ MORE<!-- -->: <span class=\"ReadMore_readmore-link__eF9pN\">Former Arsenal and Wales star Aaron Ramsey announces retirement in emotional statement<\/span><\/span><span data-testid=\"readmore\" class=\"ReadMore_readmore-prefix__xS44r __className_4f362a\">READ MORE<!-- -->: <span class=\"ReadMore_readmore-link__eF9pN\">Rio Ferdinand warns Arsenal on course to say &#8216;good night&#8217; to Premier League title chances<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Yellow cards in the Champions League are not reset until after the quarter-final stage which means Zubimendi and Norgaard both need to be on their best behaviour in the two games against Sporting to avoid a suspension, potentially in a semi-final should Arsenal advance.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Talisman Declan Rice, who missed the final league phase fixture against Kairat through suspension, could also find himself walking a yellow card tightrope if he&#8217;s booked against Sporting in the first-leg, which would put him on four yellow cards ahead of the return fixture at the Emirates next week.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-36981122\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36981122\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Christian Norgaard is another player facing the prospect of a ban\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36981122.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-2250502425.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36981122.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_GettyImages-2250502425.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36981122.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_GettyImages-2250502425.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36981122.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-2250502425.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Christian Norgaard is another player facing the prospect of a ban\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Christian Norgaard is another player facing the prospect of a ban<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Arsenal have been nearly perfect in this season&#8217;s Champions League, winning nine of ten games and drawing the other. However their return to European action comes at a time where their season is being severely questions following successive defeats domestically. They were beaten in the Carabao Cup final and then shocked in the FA Cup.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">It leaves them needing to get back on track in the Champions League as the Premier League leaders seek to rediscover top form. A win over Sporting, who have overachieved by getting this far, would set up a semi-final against either Barcelona or Atletico Madrid.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Mikel Arteta&#8217;s side are seeking to reach just their second European Cup final following their loss in 2006.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/chat.whatsapp.com\/Feq1SEG6mXDIZGTTnek7oz\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\"><em>Join our new WhatsApp community<\/em> <\/a>and receive your daily dose of <em>Mirror<\/em> <em>Football<\/em> content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don&#8217;t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you&#8217;re curious, you can read our <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reachplc.com\/site-services\/privacy-policy\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\"><em>Privacy Notice.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Arsenal go into the Champions League quarter-final against Sporting Lisbon with the likes of Martin Zubimendi facing the danger of another suspension if he&#8217;s booked Martin Zubimendi needs to avoid a yellow card against Sporting Lisbon if he wants to dodge a suspension Arsenal have two stars facing the prospect of a Champions League suspension [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3639,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3638","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arsenal"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3638","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3638"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3638\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3639"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3638"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3638"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3638"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}