Arsenal have four Champions League suspension risks vs Real Madrid amid yellow card rule

are one game away from reaching the semi-final of the Champions League and taking a huge step towards continental success under Mikel Arteta.

The Gunners take a 3-0 advantage to the. Declan Rice netted two incredible free-kicks before Mikel Merino added a third.

As has been the case throughout the Champions League this season, suspensions continue to be a concern. Rice, Jurrien Timber and Gabriel Martinelli all escaped a yellow card meaning they are available for the return leg.

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Arsenal have one foot in the semi-finals of the Champions League after their dismantling of Real Madrid on Tuesday evening. Mikel Arteta's side crucially take an advantage to the Santiago Bernabeu next Wednesday after recording a stunning 3-0 victory.

The Arsenal trio were all on two yellow cards going into the first leg of their quarter-final tie, meaning a caution in the first-leg would have see them obtain a one-match suspension for three bookings in the competition and subsequently sit out the pivotal second leg at the home of the current Champions League holders.

was the only Arsenal player to receive a booking. Partey has now joined his three Arsenal teammates on two yellow cards in the competition so far and he himself is now a suspension risk. A caution for Rice, , Martinelli or Partey in Madrid on Wednesday evening and .

The quarter-final second leg is key in regards to UEFA's rules for yellow cards as bookings do expire on completion of the quarter-finals. : "Exceptionally, all yellow cards and pending yellow-card suspensions expire on completion of the play-offs. They are not carried forward to the group stage. In addition, all yellow cards expire on completion of the quarter-finals. They are not carried forward to the semi-finals."

Amid the confusion that the Arsenal quartet would escape a one-match ban for the first leg of a prospective semi-final even if they are booked next Wednesday against Real Madrid, they would indeed still serve a one-match ban if they see yellow at the Santiago Bernabeu. That is because they would have picked up three yellow cards prior to the completion of the quarter-final ties, meaning a one-match ban would be given as punishment.

If they do not receive yellow cards then the slate is effectively wiped clean for the semi-finals as their bookings would not be carried forward. As yellow cards expire on completion of the quarter-finals, . The only way they could be banned for the Champions League final is if they were to receive a red card in the semi-final second leg or if they were dismissed for violent conduct in the first leg.