Mikel Arteta claimed that a change in refereeing rules has contributed to Arsenal not receiving a single red card so far this season.
The Gunners picked up three sending offs in their opening eight games of the previous campaign, involving Declan Rice, Leandro Trossard and William Saliba.
Rice and Trossard's dismissals were for kicking the ball away against Brighton and Manchester City which delayed the restart.
Arsenal face Brighton on Saturday, and when asked about Rice's red card from August last year, Arteta said: 'I remember it very well. I was very hacked off in the manner that we played with 10 men. So hopefully it is going to be very different this time.'
The north London club have yet to pick up a red card across all competitions this season and top the league's fair play table for the fewest penalisations.
He continued: 'I think the rules are different now. So, we paid a big price with that (delaying the restart) rule, and hopefully that stays away and we continue to play with 11 players.'
On the fair play table, he added: 'I didn't know. That is good, very good.'
Meanwhile, the Spaniard is relishing the 'different dimension' Kai Havertz will bring to Arsenal when he returns.
The German striker has been out of action since suffering a knee injury against Manchester United in the Gunners' first game of the season on August 17.
That required Havertz to have surgery on his knee a week later. He then suffered a setback last month but is closing in on a return after four months out.
Arteta said: 'Let's see in the next steps how he responds to that (training).
'But he is, again, a player that we missed a lot, a player that brings the team into a different dimension. So, I am really happy to have him back soon.'