Arsenal dealt huge Champions League quarter-final suspension blow in last minute of PSV clash

Raheem Sterling will miss Arsenal's Champions League quarter-final first leg tie against Real Madrid as he was booked in last minute of Wednesday night's 2-2 draw with PSV Eindhoven. The attacker had set up both goals for his team but ended the evening on a sour note.

Mikel Arteta offered Sterling just a 10th start of the season in all competitions. He entered the game on two yellow cards in the competition with the threshold for a ban not being wiped clean until after the quarter-finals are completed.

Atletico won 1-0 on Wednesday night with the tie ending in dramatic fashion on penalties in Spain after a 2-2 aggregate draw. Arsenal will play the holders at the Emirates Stadium on April 8/9 after the international break.

Although Sterling has not been a regular for Arteta this season he has been an attacking option at a time whereby injuries have limited rotation. On Sunday away to Manchester United Sterling was left on the bench with Kieran Tierney favoured on the wing as an impact substitute.

Arteta did risk losing Sterling by starting him but Arsenal had very few other players available in the frontline. Tierney played from the off here with Mikel Merino preferred in his unorthodox striker role.

Jurrien Timber and Gabriel Martinelli were also one booking away from a one-match ban but only came on in the closing stages. Arsenal lead twice on the night but were pegged back. Their first-leg demolition in the Netherlands paved the way for a huge 9-3 aggregate win.

UEFA rules mean that Timber and Martinelli could still miss the second leg away in Madrid if they are cautioned in the first match. Arteta can still call upon Ethan Nwaneri and Leandro Trossard in the wide areas.

It was Declan Rice and Oleksandr Zinchenko who got the goals here. Sterling set them both up, crossing onto Rice's head for the second whilst Zinchenko curled in a brilliant opener from his pass. Rice was also booked on Wednesday night which puts him one away from a suspension for the second leg.

Arsenal rotated their side ahead of welcoming Chelsea to north London on Sunday. They will then have to wait until after the international break to play their next knockout matches.

Join the football.london Arsenal WhatsApp channel

Join our Arsenal WhatsApp channel and get all the latest breaking news, opinion, podcasts and in-depth stories from football.london's dedicated Arsenal writers straight to your phone!

By following this free service you will be the first to know the news from the Emirates Stadium as it happens, when it happens.

To join our dedicated Arsenal channel, all you have to do is click this link and you can join thousands of others following our Gunners coverage!

If you're curious, you can check out our privacy policy here.