Mikel Arteta voiced his frustration with the officiating after Arsenal's 1-1 draw with Brighton, focusing on the decision to send off Declan Rice in the 49th minute.
Rice’s red card came after he received a second yellow for subtly kicking the ball away to delay a Brighton free-kick. Arteta questioned the consistency of referee Chris Kavanagh, highlighting that Brighton’s Joel Veltman, who had caught Rice in his follow-through, did not receive a similar punishment.
The Arsenal manager also referenced an earlier incident involving Joao Pedro, who kicked the ball away after it went out for a throw but was not carded at the time.
Arsenal had taken the lead in the 38th minute through Kai Havertz, after Bukayo Saka capitalized on an error from Lewis Dunk.
However, Rice’s red card changed the complexion of the game, and Brighton equalized nine minutes later through Joao Pedro after David Raya initially saved Yankuba Minteh’s attempt. Despite Havertz coming close to restoring Arsenal’s lead, Brighton held firm, and the match ended 1-1.
Arteta was left disappointed by what he saw as inconsistent officiating, particularly how the game turned following Rice’s dismissal.
He believed that similar incidents involving Brighton players should have resulted in yellow cards, leveling the playing field. Nonetheless, Arsenal dropped two crucial points in front of a frustrated Emirates crowd, while new loan signing Raheem Sterling watched on from the stands.
Arteta continued: “A very emotional afternoon. The referee makes a decision that changes the course of the game.
“And still like this with 10 men, the team reacts unbelievably well, the stadium reacts unbelievably well and probably we should have won the game.”
Fabian Hurzeler, 31, continued his unbeaten start to life as Brighton boss and rejected claims Pedro could have been booked in the first half.
“For me, clear red card. He shoots the ball away. It is wasting time,” Hurzeler said.
“You can’t compare I think these two situations. The first with Joel, it is clear. It is a free kick so it is a static situation.
“The other is much more like a dynamic situation. It was not even clear out (of play), so he tried to keep the ball in the game. Please, never compare these two situations because in football two situations never are the same.”
