Mikel Arteta delivers verdict on Declan Rice red card controversy amid Arsenal derby blow

Mikel Arteta says he was left “amazed” by the decision to send off Declan Rice during Arsenal’s draw with Brighton.

Rice was shown a second yellow card early in the second half after referee Chris Kavanagh judged that he had stopped Joel Veltman from taking a quick free-kick.

The England midfielder touched the ball just before Veltman took the free-kick, meaning the Brighton defender instead caught Rice.

Arteta admitted that “by law” the referee could make that call, but he bemoaned a lack of consistency.

The Arsenal manager felt similar incidents in the first half went unpunished, such as when Brighton striker Joao Pedro kicked the ball away.

“I was amazed,” said Arteta, when asked about Rice’s red card. “Amazed, amazed, amazed because of how inconsistent decisions can be.

“In the first half, there are two incidents and nothing happens. Then, in a non-critical area, the ball hits Declan (on the back of his leg), he turns around, he doesn’t see the player coming and he touches the ball.

“By law, he (the referee) can make that call, but then by law he needs to make the next call, which is red card so we play 10 vs 10. This is what amazed me. At this level it’s amazing.”

A frustrated Arteta expressed similar sentiments in his post-match interview with TNT Sports, saying when asked if he had received an explanation for Rice’s dismissal: “None, like always.”

Rice’s red card means he will now be suspended for Arsenal’s next match, which is the north London derby at Tottenham on September 15.

The Gunners will also be without fellow midfielder and new signing Mikel Merino, who injured his shoulder during his very first training session on Thursday.

“Well, this is what happens,” said Arteta. “We have to adapt to that context. That’s why we have other players that can fulfil that [role] and [I can] give that opportunity to somebody else.”

Asked if he had spoken to Rice about his first-ever Premier League red card, Arteta said; “He obviously had a reaction that his back was to the ball, that they’re not in the middle of the park, trying to counter or anything.

“Anyway, I repeat myself – by law if you want to do it you have to do it, but you have to do it in the first half and play 10 against 10. That’s it. Very simple.”