Mikel Arteta simply has to drop ‘powerful’ player in Arsenal’s next Champions League game, it must be done

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Arsenal have had a great start in the Champions League this season.

The Gunners have won each of their first three games, scored eight and have conceded none. Their latest victory was the most impressive one – a 4-0 hammering of Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid.

Declan Rice started for Arsenal and played a big part in two goals against the Spanish giants, and he will be a key player for the Gunners going forward in this competition.

However, Mikel Arteta should leave him at home when Arsenal play in the Champions League next.

Declan Rice should not play for Arsenal against Slavia Prague

Arsenal take on Slavia Prague at the Fortuna Arena in their fourth Champions League game of the season.

The Gunners will definitely go into the clash as the favourites. Their Czech opponents are strong at home, but Arteta’s men are more than capable of blowing them away.

Rice is usually one of the first names on the Arsenal team sheet, but we think he should play no part in the game in Prague.

This is because the England midfielder is one yellow card away from suspension.

If Rice plays and gets himself booked against Slavia, he will be banned from Arsenal’s fifth Champions League game of the season – against Bayern Munich.

The Gunners have had some painful games against the German giants, and the last thing we want to see is a midfield without Rice in that fixture.

Arsenal’s first-team squad is good enough to beat Slavia Prague without their number 41 playing.

READ MORE: Roy Keane ends Declan Rice vs Moises Caicedo debate with a perfect response to Gary Neville

One Arsenal player is already suspended in the Champions League

Rice was at risk of suspension when Arsenal faced Atletico Madrid as well, but he had a clean game.

However, the same cannot be said about his partner in midfield.

Like the former West Ham man, Martin Zubimendi was also one booking away from a ban, and unfortunately, he received a yellow card.

The Spaniard will now miss the game against Slavia Prague as a result.

Rice, who was recently hailed as ‘powerful’ by Patrick Vieira, should just stay back in London and watch the game with Zubimendi on television.

That way, both players will be fresh for the very next game – against Chelsea in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge.