Why Isn't Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta on the Bench Against Aston Villa?

While players understandably get most of the attention, a strong coaching staff is a key part of a successful season. And for all of their promising young talent, Arsenal have also found a comparable leader in Mikel Arteta. After a slow start to his time on the sidelines (not counting his stint as a Manchester City assistant) the manager now has the Gunners firing on all cylinders.

But as his club enters a major test, his influence on the match will be limited.

On Saturday, December 9, the Gunners will head to Birmingham for a date with Aston Villa. But once things kick off, Arteta won't be on the bench with his troops.

What's behind that conspicuous absence? Let's break it down.

Arteta Is Serving a Ban for Yellow-Card Accumulation

Whether you watch club soccer or tune into international competitions, you're probably familiar with the idea of yellow card accumulation leading to a suspension. The underlying idea is that if you're picking up multiple cautions, they add up to a larger punishment.

In the Premier League, managers and coaches are subject to a similar setup. In their case, though, three bookings will prompt the first (one-match) touchline ban.

That's why Arteta will find himself watching the Arsenal-Aston Villa match from afar.

Beyond his yellow card in the Community Shield, Arteta received bookings during draws against Fulham and Chelsea. His third caution, however, came about in much happier circumstances.

During Arsenal's most recent match, the Gunners escaped from Luton with all three points thanks to a Declan Rice header. The goal, which came virtually the last touch of the contest, sent the players and coaching staff into rapture. Arteta, though, apparently crossed the line and received a yellow card.

When asked about it, however, he didn't appear to have too many complaints.

And while Arteta's sideline behavior has rubbed some the wrong way, social media was largely in his corner.

"As a neutral that watched the game I didn't even think he celebrated ENOUGH?" Reddit user Dubsified wrote in response to the r/soccer post about the suspension. That comment garnered plenty of community support, receiving more than 700 upvotes.

"What was he thinking celebrating a last minute winner?" user official_bagel wrote, opting for a more sarcastic approach. "Should have given a subtle nod of acknowledgement and maybe a thumbs up if he was feeling particularly emotional."

"What did he do wrong?" user Godlop asked. "He celebrated like any manager would do in this situation. I would understand if he got on the pitch but that wasn't the case."

But whether you feel that third card was deserved or not, it's been added to Arteta's ledger. Now he has to pay the price with a touchline ban.

And while that's not the end of the world—a touchline ban means the manager can still sit in the director's box, talk to his players in the dressing room, and even send messages down to the field —it's still an extra challenge for a tricky trip to Villa Park.

Unai Emery has his team flying high and, after outplaying Manchester City in the midweek round, they'll be keen to repeat the feat against Arsenal.

How much does in-match communication actually matter? We'll find out firsthand on Saturday thanks to Arteta's suspension.