Arter gets Warn-ing to watch his step

GOOD MIXER: Unai Emery is ready to chop and change FINE LINE: Harry Arter CARDIFF boss Neil Warnock has ordered hothead Harry Arter to watch his temper by telling him, ‘We need you on the pitch’.

The season-long loan signing from Bournemouth has been involved in several unsavoury clashes in the first month of the new campaign.

Most reckoned he was lucky to escape with a booking against Newcastle two weeks ago after hacking down Javier Manquillo with a wild lunge.

And it was a similar story at Huddersfield last weekend when an angry confrontation led to Arter, 28, hitting the deck – and Town’s Jonathan Hogg being sent off.

Which is why Warnock has taken preventative measures ahead of today’s home date against Arsenal by having a quiet word with the Republic of Ireland playmaker.

Asked if the midfielder’s explosive edge is a concern, Warnock said: “Yes. We need him. He’s vital to us. I have had a chat with him about it.

“Eddie Howe said you have to take that side with Harry. He gets booked quite a lot. Bournemouth got used to it.”

Warnock, never one to shirk a bust-up, concedes striking the right balance in the heat of the battle is tough.

The last thing he wants is to stifle the fiery nature which is an essential part of Arter’s armoury. On the other hand, it cannot become a liability.

The Yorkshireman, 69, added: “You have to be careful because you don’t want to curb that side to him. It’s what makes him so good.

“He just wants to play. There is no other side to him. I have to calm him down a bit in training because he’ll do too much. We’ll have a hard day and afterwards he wants to do some sprints.”

Arter has also provided potentially priceless insider information on established Premier League opponents.

Warnock, whose men are without a league goal in three games, said: “Harry’s such a great pro – and it rubs off on the others.

“He made some good points on Newcastle and Huddersfield that we took on board.

“And he’s made some on Arsenal. It’s really refreshing to have someone else putting their bit in.”

Certainly preferable to sticking the boot in!