Arsenal go into their next game against Southampton with another three players just one booking away from a suspension.

Against Huddersfield at the weekend Arsenal lost Sokratis and Shkodran Mustafi as they both picked up their fifth card of the season. This came after they had to do without Granit Xhaka, who was suspended for the game against Manchester United in midweek.

Mustafi looked set to miss the Southampton game anyway as he went off with what seemed to be a hamstring problem, but speaking after the 1-0 over the Terriers, Unai Emery told reporters, “Yes (it was a hamstring problem), but I think he will be OK.

“Now, I don’t know how we are going to play next week, but we have players. Stephan played at centre back today and had a good performance in Manchester with good commitment. Koscielny is also coming back, Nacho Monreal too. We’ll have players.”

For the next domestic game, Stephan Lichtsteiner, Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi are all on four yellows and should they pick up a card at St Mary’s they will not be eligible for the Carabao Cup game against Spurs on Wednesday, December 19.

Normally, only two of those three would have been expected to feature in this competition. Given the situation with injuries, it’s hard to know how Emery will send his team out for this game, especially when you consider how Spurs will be out for revenge following their league spanking.

Of course, this is the Carabao Cup and a win there is not akin to a league win, but this is Tottenham who, along with Jose Mourinho, are the only ones who rate this competition as worth anything anyway.

Granit Xhaka picked up his sixth yellow of the season on Saturday. Another four before the second Sunday in April and he will sit out a two-game ban. 15 yellows will result in a three-game ban while 20 or more will see him called to a special FA hearing to discuss his on-pitch behaviour.

The five-yellow limit cut-off is December 31.