Despite being one of the most booked players in the Premier League this season, Harry Arter had been suspended just once going into Saturday afternoon's game against Stoke.
It seems nobody walks the disciplinary tightrope better than the Ireland international.
Arter was sent off for receiving two yellow cards in Bournemouth's second game of the season against West Ham. The game which he missed was a League Cup tie against Morecambe.
On Friday, Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe, quoted by the Bournemouth Echo, highlighted the effort and maturity Arter showed for the remainder of the season to ensure he missed no further games through suspension.
I think he has definitely improved in that respect this season. He has matured and has been able to control his emotions a lot better.
He still has that fiery streak in him which you never want to take away because that is what makes him the player he is.
But we can’t afford red cards and ill-discipline. Harry has done well in that aspect since the game at West Ham.
Arter himself added that he felt he had let his team down when receiving that red card against West Ham. The first booking was for dissent and then the second for bringing down a West Ham player.
When Arter speaks about having improved his discipline, it appears to be a lack of suspensions rather than yellow cards to which he refers.
It is all well and good saying sorry and it won’t happen again but, if it does, even 15 or 20 games later, you haven’t learned from your mistakes.
My discipline was something I had always wanted to improve and, thankfully, that has been the only ban I have had from the start of the season until now so I have been pleased with that side.
Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
