Arsenal ignore red for danger

By Phil McNulty
Chief football writer

Jeffers sees red in Cardiff Wenger furious with Jeffers

Arsene Wenger is allegedly a passionate preacher of the gospel of discipline - so it takes a giant leap to imagine how bad Arsenal's record would be if their manager went soft on soccer crime.

Francis Jeffers' dismissal against Manchester United in the Community Shield was Arsenal's 50th since Wenger took charge in September 1996.

And matters were made worse when Sol Campbell - already facing an FA inquiry - became number 51 when he was sent off against Everton.

It is an abysmal record when set against Manchester United's figure of 21 red cards in the same period.

Jeffers' kick at Phil Neville in Cardiff was so blatant that Wenger - who has perfected the art of the blind eye when it comes to Arsenal misdemeanour - was even forced to admit he had actually seen it.

The Arsenal striker's only flimsy defence to his frustrated manager may have been that team-mates Ashley Cole and Campbell actually committed worse offences and stayed on.

ARSENAL - 51 RED CARDS (since Wenger took charge) 1996: 3 red cards 1997: 5 red cards 1998: 10 red cards 1999: 8 red cards 2000: 5 red cards 2001: 9 red cards 2002: 7 red cards 2003: 4 red cards

Cole and Campbell escaped red cards in Cardiff, but it was another clear indication that Arsenal have yet to learn the lessons of ill-discipline that helped hand the title to Manchester United last term.

Arsenal complained long and hard that Campbell's red card, picked up against Manchester United at Highbury for elbowing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, unjustly deprived them of a vital influence in the closing weeks of their campaign.

And yet Campbell was still swinging wildly in the direction of Eric Djemba-Djemba and was fortunate referee Steve Bennett took the lenient option.

Have Arsenal got the message?

Not on the evidence witnessed at The Millennium Stadium.

Not on the basis that Campbell is now the subject of an FA investigation for his behaviour and could be hit with a three-match suspension on top of his one-game ban for the Everton dismissal.

Former defender Lee Dixon, who saw red under Wenger himself, admitted to BBC Radio Five Live: "I don't think Francis Jeffers will have any complaints. Even Arsene Wenger saw it - which is a one-off.

"He's very strong on discipline both on and off the pitch. Believe me he's very, very strict on discipline.

"He likes his teams to be fiery, but in the dressing room he stresses all the time about discipline.

MAN UTD - 21 RED CARDS (since Sept 96) 1996: 0 red cards 1997: 1 red card 1998: 4 red cards 1999: 5 red cards 2000: 7 red cards 2001: 3 red cards 2002: 1 red cards 2003: 0 red cards

"He wants them to be competitive but not do silly things. He can't help players doing silly things but what he can do is discipline them afterwards, and knowing him he will discipline them."

And it is in Wenger's best interests to clamp down on the lack of composure that Arsenal display all too often.

Arsenal's first 11 may be the strongest around, but it cannot bear too many players being absent through suspension, as last season proved.

Wenger is one of the game's purists and has a team capable of the most dazzling football.

Indeed, it has been suggested that Arsenal's reliance on football purity means they cannot handle it when teams use the iron hand against the velvet glove.

But this can hardly be the case with men like Cole, Campbell, Martin Keown and Patrick Vieira around - not exactly the Premiership's shrinking violets.

Red and yellow cards may not been seen by Wenger, but the evidence is there before his very eyes when he picks his team for vital matches and key men are missing through suspension.

It cost Arsenal dear last season - and it is to be hoped that the disciplinary code former Gunner Dixon claims Wenger adheres to is written large in the Highbury dressing room.

Preferably in red.

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