Arsenal vs Athletic Club Champions League suspension latest - ban confirmed and red card clarity

Arsenal are set to benefit from Athletic Club having a key player banned from playing in their opening Champions League clash. The Gunners take on the La Liga side on Tuesday evening and Mikel Arteta’s side will want to prove they are capable of competing across multiple competitions.

Fresh from their 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at the weekend, Arsenal’s attention turns to the Champions League and their desire to improve upon last season’s semi-final defeat to eventual winners PSG. The club added strength-in-depth across key areas of the squad throughout the transfer window, demonstrated by the new signings’ contributions against Forest.

The Gunners travel to San Mames to take on an Athletic Club side embarking on their first Champions League campaign since the 2014/15 season. However, manager Ernesto Valverde has several injury worries and will be without defender Yeray Alvarez due to his 10-month ban for taking a banned substance.

READ MORE: Arsenal forced to make late change for Champions League opener vs Athletic Club due to UEFA rule

READ MORE: Noni Madueke makes Arsenal promise after Rio Ferdinand's 'disgraceful' blast

The Mirror reported that Alvarez had been suspended after testing positive for canrenone following his side’s 3-0 first leg defeat to Manchester United in their Europa League semi-final last season. The 30-year-old argued that he had mistakenly ingested the substance as part of medication used to prevent hair loss, a measure he had taken since undergoing cancer treatment, having been diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2016.

UEFA accepted that Alvaraz had unintentionally used a banned substance but the centre-back was still given a 10-month suspension, which he accepted in June, meaning he will be eligible to play again until April 2, 2026, and can rejoin training two months earlier. Canrenone is a diuretic that can potentially be used as a masking agent, according to BBC Sport.

Taking to social media earlier this summer, Alvarez gave his thoughts on the situation: "After studying the case, we have established that I tested positive because I unintentionally took a hair loss prevention medicine containing a banned substance.

"The disciplinary procedure is currently under investigation and subject to confidentiality - so I am provisionally suspended - and am not authorised to make any further public statements. I very much regret this situation but, with the support of the club, I am working on my defence in the belief that I will be able to return to the field of play as soon as possible."

Alvarez has been associated with Athletic for his entire career, rising through the ranks to make 257 appearances for the Basque club. He featured 29 times for Athletic in all competitions last season as the team finished fourth in La Liga.

While Athletic boss Valverde will be without Alvarez against Arsenal, the manager will be able to call upon fellow defender Dani Vivian. The 26-year-old was given a straight red card against Manchester United after fouling Rasmus Hojlund in the box during the first leg of their Europa League semi-final.

Despite being shown a red card, Vivian served only a one-match ban - sitting out the reverse leg at Old Trafford, which Athletic lost 4-1. It means that Arsenal’s opponents will be able to select Spain international Vivian against the Gunners on Tuesday.

Although it is the first game of the league phase, players on both sides should be wary of clocking up yellow cards. Three bookings, not including red cards, across different matches will lead to a one-match ban.

Yellow card totals from the league phase also carry over into the knockout rounds. Moreover, players are given a one-match ban “after any subsequent odd-numbered caution”, as per UEFA rules.

However, these tallies are wiped at the end of the quarter-finals. This means a player can only be suspended for a final by receiving a red card.