Arsenal have twice as many red cards as goals in 2022

Arsenal's red card problem continued on Thursday night as they saw another player receive their marching orders.

This time it was Gabriel Martinelli's turn to take an early bath during their 1-0 victory over Wolves.

Martinelli was sent off for two yellow cards within seconds of each other after two quickfire fouls in the second-half.

It further highlighted Mikel Arteta's side's discipline problems as it was now their fourth of 2022.

Remarkably, that's double the amount of goals they have scored since the turn of the year, which is just two from their last six games in all competitions.

Since Arteta took charge in December 2019, the Gunners have received 15 red cards – more than any other Premier League club.

The Arsenal boss was less than impressed with the decision and was demanding an explanation from the officials.

“I want explanations about VAR and what happened tonight,” Arteta said after the game. “They are conversations that are going to happen very soon.

“Everyone says it is the most disciplined group they have seen in the last 10 to 15 years, but we are still getting red cards.

“I've never seen that [Martinelli's red]. I've been 18 years in this country and I've never seen something like it.”

Arsenal Invincible Ray Parlour gave his verdict on the Martinelli red card, but also pointed out that players in his generation got sent off all the time too.

Speaking to talkSPORT Breakfast, Parlour said: “It was a very strange one. I'm a little bit 50/50 with it. The referee could have used a bit of common sense and given him a chance and given him just a yellow card.

“He's given the advantage and it's two mistakes he made, Martinelli.

“In my era, we got quite a few sent off as well. Patrick Vieira has probably got the record for being sent off.

“Martin [Keown] was sent off a few times, I was sent off, Thierry Henry was even sent off – not in a Premier League game but a European one.

“Dennis Bergkamp was sent off as well. We didn't have a problem, but you are always committed and sometimes you make mistakes.

“Tony Adams, Nigel [Winterburn], Lee Dixon – I think everyone was sent off at Arsenal. I'm trying to think who wasn't sent off at Arsenal.

“It obviously is a problem and he'll be missing the next game against Brentford. He will be disappointed, but the most important thing for Arsenal is they held on and won the game.

“It's a nightmare when you get sent off and suddenly lose the game you feel so guilty sitting there in the dressing room.

“I got sent off in the first half one game against Newcastle and we lost 3-1. It was like a morgue after the game, everyone was looking at each other and I was feeling more guilty than anyone because I'd been sent off and I'd let my teammates down.”