ARSENAL’S LACK OF self-control in the Old Trafford fracas contributed to Arsène Wenger’s selection of a depleted side against Birmingham City on Saturday — not that their four suspensions seemed to hinder them — but they have cleaned up their act since attacking and taunting Ruud van Nistelrooy in September. An absence of red cards in their 11 games since they faced Manchester United, though, still leaves them with a dismal overall record during the Frenchman’s reign as manager.

The tally of 52 dismissals under Wenger is well known and sounds poor but exactly how bad is it? In a survey of the period since September 30, 1996, when he was appointed at Highbury, we have compared the number of red cards received in all competitions by the ten clubs that have been ever-present in the Premiership since that day. It makes grim reading. On average Arsenal have suffered a sending-off every 7.71 games, well ahead of Everton, who are second with 10.27.

It may be considered that the more successful teams are less prone to red cards since players in struggling sides can lose their cool in frustration at the scoreline — and perhaps have to make more last-ditch challenges and risk a “professional foul” — and the presence of Manchester United, Newcastle United and Liverpool at the bottom of our table supports this view. In which case, Arsenal’s record is all the more surprising.

If there is a bias against Arsenal at the FA, as Wenger and some of his players have suggested, then it has survived two changes of power in the governing body. The 52 dismissals have been spread fairly evenly across his seven-year stay at Highbury: six to the end of his first season, followed by six, ten, seven, three, 12 and five in his six completed campaigns, with three so far this term.

Strangely, no Arsenal goalkeeper has been sent off under Wenger, while Robert Pires, Sylvain Wiltord, Lauren and Kanu have also avoided red cards despite having each played more than 100 games for the club.

As the driving force in midfield, Patrick Vieira leads by example on the pitch but he also does so by walking off it early: his nine dismissals are the most with the Wenger in charge.

Next comes Martin Keown, with six, while Dennis Bergkamp and Ray Parlour have each suffered four times. There should be a special mention for Jason Crowe, the former Arsenal trainee, who played just 21 minutes during three substitute appearances for the club but still managed to receive a red card in a League Cup tie at home to Birmingham.

Other clubs have their “Vieiras”. For Leeds United, it is Alan Smith, whose seven dismissals constitutes more than a quarter of those suffered by Leeds United in that period. An even worse record is held by Roy Keane, who has received seven red cards, almost one third of the number shown to Manchester United players in the past seven years.

It should be noted that Arsenal are attracted to cards that match their home shirts rather than their away jerseys. Their moderate record for yellow cards is reflected in the fact that their overall disciplinary record in the Premiership under Wenger is close to the average.

However, their improvement in the past 11 games will need to continue for some time before they can say the same about their tally of dismissals. Red cards in all competitions since Wenger’s arrival on September 30, 1996, including the ten clubs in the Premiership throughout that time.

DISCIPLINARY MATTERS

Red cards in all competitions since Wenger's arrival on September 30, 1996, including the ten clubs in the Premiership throughout that time

ARSENAL 52 1 red every 7.71 games
(401 games: 271 league, 130 other)

EVERTON 30 1 red every 10.27 games
(308 games: 271 league, 37 other)

SOUTHAMPTON 29 1 red every 11.11 games
(317 games: 271 league, 46 other)

CHELSEA 31 1 red every 12.33 games
(378 games: 271 league, 107 other)

TOTTENHAM 26 1 red every 12.58 games
(327 games: 271 league, 56 other)

LEEDS 27 1 red every 13.22 games
(357 games: 271 league, 86 other)

ASTON VILLA 25 1 red every 13.60 games
(340 games: 271 league, 69 other)

LIVERPOOL 25 1 red every 14.92 games
(380 games: 271 league, 109 other)

NEWCASTLE 22 1 red every 17.05 games
(366 games: 271 league, 95 other)

MAN UTD 22 1 red every 18.82 games
(414 games: 271 league, 143 other)