In most cases, Arsenal would be disappointed to finish a home Premier League match against Brighton without all three points. However, on Saturday, the draw was seen as a significant achievement due to the circumstances. Arsenal had to play nearly the entire second half with just ten men after Declan Rice was shown a red card by referee Chris Kavanagh shortly after halftime.
The incident occurred in the 49th minute when Rice fouled Brighton’s Joel Veltman near the corner flag. Veltman tried to quickly restart the play, but he appeared to miss the ball and accidentally kicked Rice instead, who went down in a heap.
After the scuffle that followed, Kavanagh issued Rice his second yellow card of the match. This decision surprised everyone, including Rice, Arsenal fans, and players, who were all puzzled by the call. The Sporting News explains that Rice’s second yellow card came not for the initial foul but for delaying the restart of play. Veltman rolled the ball towards Rice, who had his back turned. Rice nudged the ball away with his foot, causing Veltman to miss and accidentally kick Rice. According to the rules, referees are instructed to book players who deliberately delay a free-kick by kicking or moving the ball away from the spot.
Despite the rules being followed, the decision has sparked controversy. Critics argue that Kavanagh’s call seemed overly strict, especially since Rice only lightly nudged the ball. Former England striker Peter Crouch commented that while Rice did delay the restart, the situation felt like a bit of gamesmanship from Veltman, who seemed to be trying to provoke Rice. Additionally, some pointed out that Brighton’s Joao Pedro wasn’t punished for a similar action earlier in the match.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta criticized the inconsistency in applying the rules, noting that other instances of players kicking the ball away were not penalized. He also felt that if Rice’s actions warranted a red card, Brighton’s Veltman should have been similarly punished for his role in the incident.
Brighton’s manager, Fabian Hurzeler, defended the referee’s decision, stating it was a clear red card and dismissing comparisons to earlier incidents in the game.
As a result of his suspension, Declan Rice will miss Arsenal’s crucial north London derby against Tottenham on September 15, following the international break.
