Arsenal handed suspension blow but Mikel Arteta has Champions League silver lining

Arsenal midfielder Martin Zubimendi will be suspended for the Gunners' next Champions League match - but it means he won't miss their vital clash against Bayern Munich.

Zubimendi was deployed alongside Declan Rice in the north Londoners' clash against Atletico Madrid. Both the Spaniard and the England talisman headed into the contest on a yellow card which were picked up in an earlier match in Europe.

The former Real Sociedad midfielder brought down an Atletico player - close to the touchline - and then reacted angrily to that decision. Referee Davide Massa pulled out the yellow card to the frustration of Zubimendi and the Arsenal supporters.

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His booking means he will miss the away trip to Slavia Prague in the Gunners' next Champions League game on Tuesday, November 4. However, the bigger picture is better for Arsenal as it means he will not be absent for the crucial home clash against Bayern Munich on November 26.

Explaining the rules on suspensions as a result of yellow card accumulation, the official UEFAwebsite says: "From the first match in the league phase, players and team officials are suspended for the next competition match after three cautions, that did not result in a red card."

Zubimendi has been one of Arsenal's most important players so far this season. The Spaniard has operated as the deepest-lying playmaker at the heart of Mikel Arteta's midfield.

His arrival from Sociedad, in a deal worth around £60million, has enabled Declan Rice to maraud forward and make a difference in the front-line. Zubimendi's slick movement and clever football brain has also played a vital role in the way Arsenal beat opposition presses.

He also scored a brace in their 3-0 victory against Nottingham Forest, hitting a fierce volley and flicking in a clever header. Of course, Arteta would much rather have Zubimendi available for every Arsenal game in all competitions.

But with the huge number of games coming their way during the festive period, as well as the fact he will not be at risk of suspension ahead of the clash with Bayern Munich, Arteta will be able to see the positive side. Zubimendi recently explained his decision to choose Arsenal over a potential move to Real Madrid this summer.

Xabi Alonso was understood to be interested in signing the Euro 2024 winner and making him the anchor of Los Blancos' midfield. However, he opted to move to the Emirates Stadium instead of the Santiago Bernabeu.

In a recent interview he said: "I don't know, you get a feeling. Once that I decided to leave Sociedad, Arsenal was a team that, from what I'd seen, suited me well, especially in terms of play.

"I also wanted a very detail-oriented manager, and in Mikel - as soon as I spoke to him - I found him. At Arsenal there was a very young team, with a lot of passion, very close-knit, eager to win, and even though they haven't been able to do so, that makes them even more eager."