Steve Cooper has begged his players to avoid the same fate as Leandro Trossard when Leicester take on Arsenal today/on Saturday.
Trossard earned a controversial second booking during Arsenal’s 2-2 draw at Manchester City last weekend when he was deemed to have delayed a restart by kicking the ball away.
With Gunners boss Mikel Arteta and the Emirates Stadium crowd likely to be alive to any similar situation this weekend, Cooper has urged the Foxes to think before they act.
‘What we have to make sure we don’t do is kick the ball away on fouls as that will be a hot topic in the stadium, and it’s what referees are clamping down on as well,’ said Cooper.
‘I can only talk about ourselves. Gamesmanship and doing what it takes to win has always been part of football and always has been.
‘Certainly not breaking rules, but bending rules will never go away. I’m talking about Arsenal, but football in general.’
Cooper finds himself under pressure despite being in charge of the newly-promoted Foxes for just seven competitive games.
Supporters aired their frustration during the Carabao Cup tie at League Two club Walsall in midweek, with one fan entering the pitch and running towards Cooper before he was halted.
Leicester have yet to win in the league and though few expect them to take points from Arsenal, the next two fixtures – against Bournemouth and Southampton – feel more pivotal.
Cooper added: ‘No manager is ever too far from challenging times and criticism. Successful people go through tough times and can handle tough times.
‘If this is one for me, then people are thinking about it more than me, because I’m committed to the team. All I think about in any job is what is right for that club. I always put the club first.’
