Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice has expressed his regret to both his teammates and the club’s supporters following his red card in the home draw against Brighton, marking the first time Arsenal has dropped points this season. The England international was already on a yellow card for a first-half foul when he was sent off by referee Chris Kavanagh for allegedly delaying a free-kick that Brighton’s Joel Veltman was attempting to take deep inside their own half.
Rice’s dismissal sparked controversy among pundits and Arsenal fans, many of whom believed the decision was harsh. They argued that the ball was still in motion when Rice made minimal contact with it and that the overall context of the match did not warrant such a severe penalty. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta voiced his frustration but stopped short of directly criticizing the referee’s decision. Instead, he called for consistency from Kavanagh, highlighting that Brighton’s goalscorer, Joao Pedro, was not penalized for a similar act of kicking the ball away earlier in the match.
After the game, Rice shared his perspective on the incident, stating, “I think you could see in my face that I was shocked. The referee made his decision… I didn’t sprint back in front of him or smash the ball away. I just touched the ball with the outside of my foot.” He acknowledged that according to the laws of the game, even a slight touch can lead to a red card, especially considering his first-half challenge, which he admitted was a close call. Reflecting on the incident, Rice continued, “But the second one, especially considering it was near the corner flag where they couldn’t really advance from, felt tough and harsh. It’s one of those things. I need to move on, learn from it, and become better for it.”
Rice also commended his teammates, the manager, and the fans for their support and effort throughout the match, emphasizing that the team showed resilience despite the setback. “I must also commend the players for their effort, the manager for motivating everyone, and the fans who were, once again, incredible this afternoon. That’s my take on it,” Rice added.
The situation poses a significant challenge for Arsenal, as Rice will now be suspended for their next match, a crucial fixture against local rivals Tottenham after the international break. To complicate matters further, new signing Mikel Merino is also out with an injury, leaving manager Mikel Arteta with a significant void in the midfield. Despite this setback, Rice remained positive, stating, “We’ll keep pushing forward. I know it’s tough, not just for me but for everyone. We have a challenging run of games after the international break, but we’ll be ready.”
Analyzing his first career red card, Rice expressed his determination to learn and improve from the experience. He apologized to his teammates and fans, acknowledging the sense of guilt that accompanies being sent off. However, he was grateful for his teammates’ response, as they managed to avoid losing the game despite his absence. Rice concluded on an optimistic note, saying, “I’ll definitely be back. I believe in this group of players, myself included, and I know we are all striving towards the same goal—to be successful.” He reiterated his commitment to learning from the incident, emphasizing that receiving red cards is not in his nature and that he will strive to improve moving forward.