Mikel Arteta has admitted he was “surprised” by the decision to send off Declan Rice Arsenal draw 1-1 with Brighton & Hove Albion.
With the Gunners 1-0 up at the time, Rice was booked for a second yellow card for lightly throwing the ball away, and that decision ultimately turned the game around, allowing Joao Pedro to grab the equalizer moments later.
Pedro may have been lucky enough to avoid a similar fate. He had the ball sent off after serving in the first half but avoided punishment, meaning his yellow card ultimately mattered little.
Asked for his thoughts after the game, Arteta initially argued that Rice, who inadvertently kicked the ball before making a clear attempt to kick it, did not intentionally delay the restart, which was the official reason for his dismissal .
“I was shocked,” he said. “Surprised, surprised, surprised. The ball hits Declan’s heel, he doesn’t see the player. At this level, I’m honestly in awe.”
Arteta later hit out at referee Chris Kavanagh’s “inconsistency” for not booking Pedro in the first half.
“In the first half, when the opponents did it, they didn’t get a booking,” he said arsenal said the boss MOTD. “He makes the legal call in a non-critical area of ​​the field of play when the ball hits the heel on the spin, to make that decision … legally he can, but be consistent. If so, they should be sent off a man and then it’s 10 against 10.
“Unbelievable, the team and the reaction of the crowd (after going down a man). We created two great chances one on one and we should have won the game.”
