Chelsea star to now play Arsenal game with the burden of suspension due to strict Premier League rule

Chelsea have already been fined this season for accumulating a high number of yellow cards in a game, following their 2-1 win against Bournemouth earlier in the campaign. Discipline on the pitch has been a major concern over the past two seasons, as Chelsea had the most yellow cards for much of the previous campaign under Mauricio Pochettino.

If there is one thing that hasn’t changed under Enzo Maresca so far, it’s the fact that they continue to rack up yellow cards. Marc Cucurella and Wesley Fofana both missed the defeat to Liverpool due to an accumulation of yellow cards, and now leading striker Nicolas Jackson will head into this weekend’s game against Arsenal knowing that a fifth yellow card in just 11 games will result in a suspension.

The Premier League has a rule stating that any player who receives five yellow cards before their 19th game of the season will miss the following match. Jackson is now at risk of missing a game after the international break if he picks up a yellow card against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge this weekend.

There’s also the psychological burden for Jackson, who must play with the knowledge that he needs to avoid further bookings. This is not just a challenge for Jackson, though, as he’s known for his physical style of play and tendency to get involved in disputes when his teammates are under pressure.

However, Chelsea need to tighten up their discipline, as it could come back to haunt them at a crucial stage of the season. They have been fortunate with injuries so far, and even players who were previously unavailable to train are now playing consecutive matches, with Enzo Maresca’s side heading into this huge London derby above Arsenal in the standings.

This game will provide a true test of how good Chelsea really are, having already managed a point at Old Trafford and performed well, even in their loss at Anfield.