Arsenal secured their toughest away win when they faced Aston Villa last season but this time is poised to be even harder without manager Mikel Arteta.
The Gunners overcame a huge obstacle at Kenilworth Road on Tuesday as Declan Rice scored a 97-minute winner to earn a 4-3 victory over Luton Town.
The result put Arsenal five points clear at the top of the table however the late goal was somewhat soured by Arteta‘s ban.
The Spaniard collected his third booking of the season after he charged down the touchline to celebrate Rice’s header.
It now means Arsenal, who went behind twice during their last visit to Villa Park before a late own-goal from their former keeper Emi Martinez helped them go on to win, will now be without Arteta for their return trip to the west Midlands this weekend.
Why has Arteta been banned for Aston Villa v Arsenal?
Arteta will not be on the touchline at Villa Park after accumulating his third yellow card – which equates to an automatic suspension.
But asked if his latest booking was worth it, Arteta told BeIN Sports: “Yeah, I could not be sitting on my seat, unfortunately.
“So I left there, I had no spatial awareness at all. It was just pure emotion. So if that’s a yellow. Okay, it’s a yellow.”
Albert Stuivenberg, who was linked with the Ajax job, will now be tasked with sitting in the dugout with Arteta confined to the stands.
Arteta will be back for Arsenal’s next Premier League match at home to Brighton on December 17 but it is possible he could be banned again.
The 41-year-old is still awaiting the punishment of the FA charge he received over his rant at VAR following Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat at Newcastle last month.
After the match, Arteta labelled the decision to allow Anthony Gordon‘s winner to stand as ‘embarrassing’ and a ‘disgrace’.
