Rice sent off as Arsenal held by Brighton 1-1

Mikel Arteta’s side were leading through Kai Havertz’s first-half strike when Rice saw red after the interval at the Emirates Stadium

Rice sent off as Arsenal held by Brighton 1-1

Declan Rice. Pic/AFP

Declan Rice was controversially sent off for the first time in the Premier League as Arsenal were held to a contentious 1-1 draw against Brighton on Saturday.

Mikel Arteta’s side 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 Arsenal midfielder earned a second booking for gently kicking the ball away and failing to retreat after fouling Brighton’s Joel Veltman.

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Rice 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.”

VAR was unable to intervene because it was a yellow card and not a straight red. Brighton took advantage of Rice’s dismissal to equalise through Joao Pedro, ending Arsenal’s 100 per cent start to their bid to win the title for the first time since 2004. The Gunners had won both opening games of the season against Wolves and Aston Villa, but this was the first blow to their hopes of dethroning champions Manchester City.

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