Raheem Sterling is one of a few Arsenal players to miss out on the clash with Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final first leg.
Mikel Arteta faced plenty of selection dilemmas heading into the tie at the Emirates Stadium, due to some availability concerns.
Gabriel Magalhaes is out injured for the rest of the season, with Arsenal left scratching their heads over options to select in the backline.
That’s due to other injuries to the likes of Riccardo Calafiori and Takehiro Tomiyasu at the back, along with Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus being absent up front.
The Arsenal boss was left with some selection concerns as a result, but among those was also Raheem Sterling.
Raheem Sterling missed Arsenal vs Real Madrid through Champions League suspension
Raheem Sterling is another star missing from the Arsenal squad from their clash with Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final first leg.
The winger has played a bit-part role in the team so far this campaign and appeared unlikely to start, but will be a missing experience option for such a huge encounter.
The reason Sterling misses out is through suspension, as the winger hit the threshold for a one-match ban.
| Appearances | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| 24 | 1 | 5 |
In the dying embers of the PSV Eindhoven second leg, the 30-year-old picked up a yellow card, which was his third of the Champions League campaign.
As stated in the Champions League rules, three yellow cards will result in a one-match ban, along with any subsequent odd number that follows it.
While Sterling now misses out on the first leg between Arsenal and Real Madrid at the Emirates Stadium, he will be available to feature once again in the second leg.
When do the Champions League yellow card bans reset?
The Champions League yellow card bans reset after the quarter-finals, meaning the slate is wiped clean for the semi-finals and final.
There are a few Arsenal players at risk before then as a result, though, who could miss out on the second leg of the quarter-finals, or even the first leg of the semi-final.
Gabriel Martinelli, Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber are suspension risks, with one booking set to see them miss out on one of the coming ties.
It means the trio now have to spend at least 180 minutes avoiding another booking, unless Mikel Arteta chooses to protect them.
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