Arsenal branded 'stupid and petulant' as red card issue threatens to derail title bid

Arsenal's red cards are coming as a result of "petulant, lazy and stupid actions" according to - who has rejected any idea of an agenda against the Gunners.

We're only eight games into the season and already the north Londoners have had three men sent off. That is more than anyone else sparking fears of a disciplinary issue which could damage their title charge.

They've only dropped points in three games this term - but on each occasion it was when they were down to 10 men. was sent off for delaying the restart against - a game they went on to draw. It was the same scenario at , who scored a stoppage time equaliser.

Then last week William Saliba was sent off when he was last man as fell to their first defeat at . Deeney claims the narrative that the Gunners are creating will not be helping, adamant that their dismissals were largely deserved.

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He said in : "If the likes of Declan Rice, and William Saliba had been sent off for violent conduct, aggressive behaviour or arguing with refs, I could understand. These things happen, move on. But in Arsenal’s case, none of them were for tackles. They were simply for petulant, lazy and stupid actions — things that manager cannot account for.

"In all fairness, Rice’s red against Brighton for kicking the ball away was mental. The ref handled that badly. But Trossard’s against Manchester City was incredibly petulant.

"And with Saliba’s at Bournemouth, he has got credit for reacting to a poor pass - ironically from Trossard - but I would have backed him to get back and for to save it. It is something that keeps happening. My other concern is the Arsenal players are starting to feel there is an agenda against them from the Prem refs - which there is not."

Mikel Arteta was left fuming after reds were shown to Rice and then Trossard. He was more willing to accept Saliba's dismissal last week but has taken aim at the officials and the rules rather than lamenting his own players.

Deeney though insists that the players should be calling each other out when individual mistakes end up costing the team - which has been the case so far this season.

"You need accountability, you need players to show their frustration," he said. "When Saliba was sent off and the team then lost 2-0, I would expect someone to at least ask: 'Why did you do that?' You are supposed to have conflict. You are allowed to hold people to a high standard."

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