Declan Rice sent off as Arsenal held by Brighton

LONDON – Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta blamed “inconsistent” refereeing after Declan Rice was controversially sent off in their 1-1 English Premier League home draw with Brighton & Hove Albion on Aug 31.

The Gunners were leading through Kai Havertz’s first-half strike when Rice saw red after the interval at the Emirates Stadium.

In a bizarre incident, the midfielder earned a second booking for gently kicking the ball away and failing to retreat after fouling Brighton’s Joel Veltman. It was his first red in 245 Premier League appearances.

He looked bewildered by the decision, while Arteta sought an explanation from the fourth official as Arsenal fans chanted “you’re not fit to referee” at Chris Kavanagh.

The Premier League said Rice was sent off for “delaying the restart” of a free kick. The VAR (video assistant referee) was unable to intervene because it was a yellow card and not a straight red.

When asked about the incident after the match, Arteta said he was not given a proper explanation about the decision.

“None, like always,” he said.

“If it (booking) happens throughout the game in a consistent way it is fine, but it didn’t. It is the inconsistency. I was amazed. In the first half when the opponents did that, they didn’t get any booking. By law he (the referee) can do it (book Rice), but be consistent.”

Brighton took advantage of Rice’s dismissal to equalise through Joao Pedro in the 58th minute, ending Arsenal’s 100 per cent start to their bid to win the title for the first time since 2004.

Arteta’s men won their opening two games of the season against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Aston Villa, but this was the first blow to their hopes of dethroning champions Manchester City.

They will be without the suspended Rice when they return to action after the international break with a north London derby trip to Tottenham Hotspur on Sept 15.

“We started the game really well. We scored the goal, 1-0. We started the second half really good, but then there is the decision that changes the game completely,” added Arteta.

Brighton, meanwhile, extended their unbeaten run under new manager Fabian Hurzeler to three games as they followed up last weekend’s 2-1 win against Manchester United with another impressive display.

“In the end you are one man plus, so you always want to win the game,” said the Seagulls boss.

“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.”

On the sending-off, he added: “First of all he shoots the ball away, so it is a clear yellow card.”

Arsenal new boy Raheem Sterling watched from the stands following his deadline-day loan move from Chelsea. The forward was not registered in time to feature, but his name was cheered by Arsenal fans when he was welcomed to the club in a stadium announcement.

Bukayo Saka tormented Brighton defender Jack Hinshelwood with his pace and movement in the early stages, easing into space for a pair of shots that Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen repelled.

Arsenal were nearly punished for failing to turn their pressure into a tangible reward when Yankuba Minteh’s header forced a good save from David Raya.

But Arteta’s belief that the inconsistent Havertz can be an adequate striker for a team with title ambitions looked well placed in the 38th minute as the German broke the deadlock.

The forward showed composure and quality to deftly chip over the on-rushing Verbruggen from the edge of the area.

Rice escaped with only a yellow card after he crunched into Veltman, a decision that saw Hurzeler booked for protesting. But he was not so fortunate in the 49th minute when he was dismissed.

Pedro rubbed salt into Arsenal’s wounds with his equaliser, the first goal Arsenal had conceded this season.

In a frantic finale, Raya saved Yasin Ayari’s close-range effort and Carlos Baleba smashed over the bar as 10-man Arsenal held on.
AFP, REUTERS