Mikel Arteta has hit out at the officials after not being given an explanation for Declan Rice’s red card in Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Brighton.
Arsenal dropped points for the first time this season after being held to a draw by Brighton at the Emirates, with Joao Pedro’s goal cancelling out Kai Havertz’s opener for the home side.
The game changed early into the second half when Rice was sent off for a second booking. After receiving his first caution for a late lunge, the England midfielder was dismissed for kicking the ball away as Joel Veltman attempted to take a free-kick for Brighton. Veltman was fortunate to escape a booking himself in a contentious incident, that saw the Dutch defender swipe at Rice who had nudged the static ball out of his path.
Arsenal had looked on course for a third straight league win when Havertz lobbed Bart Verbruggen for a first-half opener, but Brighton capitalised on their man advantage to level through Pedro, after David Raya parried Yankuba Minteh’s effort into his path.
Arteta cut a frustrated figure at full-time and criticised the lack of consistency in the decisions of the officials, who failed to caution Pedro for kicking a loose ball away, and the lack of explanation he received.
“We started the game really well. We scored the goal, 1-0,” Arsenal boss Arteta said, speaking to TNT Sports.
“We started the second half really good but then there is the decision that changes the game completely.”
Asked what explanation he had received for Rice’s red card, Arteta added: “None, like always. If it [bookings] happens throughout the game in a consistent way it is fine but it didn’t. It is the inconsistency.”
Brighton boss says Rice dismissal ‘a clear yellow card’
“First of all he shoots the ball away so it is a clear yellow card, it changes the momentum of the game,” Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler told BBC Match of the Day.
“We started to control the game and then the goal happens out of nowhere. We didn’t defend it well, the red card changed the game for sure. We wanted to win, we didn’t do it so we have to be satisfied with the draw.
“There’s still room for a lot of improvements. We try and go step-by-step.”
Declan Rice is sent off for the first time in his career after a second yellow for kicking the ball away
He’ll miss the north London derby in two weeks 😳 pic.twitter.com/vWQd2NPz8D
— B/R Football (@brfootball) August 31, 2024
Ex-Arsenal defender disagrees with Rice red card
Martin Keown questioned the decision to send Rice off and said Brighton defender Veltman was fortunate to go unpunished for his role in the incident.
“I know Declan knocks the ball away, but why is Veltman knocking the ball into Rice’s path?
“Where is he [Rice] supposed to go? It is almost like a free punch ‘I’ll do somebody at the same time’
“I know the principle of this new rule, but the referee has a responsibility to keep both sets of 11 players on the pitch – I don’t feel it is a sending off offence.”
