Declan Rice was somewhat fortunate not to be sent off during Arsenal’s 3-0 defeat at Brighton after kicking out at a rival player.
Arsenal’s winning start to the season came to end in humiliating fashion as goals from Pascal Gross, Charalampos Kostoulas and Chema Andres gave the Seagulls a much deserved win on Saturday.
The result means the Gunners have lost top spot in the Premier League, with Manchester City ahead on goal difference before their clash against Sunderland on Sunday.
None of Mikel Arteta’s side had a good game with Rice visibly furious with his teammates throughout the 90 minutes.
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And Rice eventually boiled over in the final few seconds of the match, as the England midfielder kicked out at Malick Yalcouyé after the Brighton midfielder barged into him.
Referee Darren England quickly showed the 27-year-old a yellow card and promptly blew the full-time whistle, ignoring Brighton players and supporters’ calls for a red card.
Some fans were left unhappy with the decision, especially those of Man City, who likened Rice’s kick to that of Phil Foden’s foul on Bruno Fernandes in last weekend’s Manchester derby which resulted in a red.
‘Declan Rice kicks out at a Brighton player: yellow card. Foden pushes [Fernandes] away with his feet: straight red. Pro Ref corruption strikes again!’ one supporter posted on X.
Another wrote: ‘This is a premeditated foul from Declan Rice, and he escapes a red card. He deliberately kicks Yalcouye.
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‘Why has VAR not advised the ref here? Why are these English referees so terrible?’
‘Declan Rice this is honestly disgusting. Behaving like a real sore loser. 100 per cent a red card,’ another added.
Speaking on Premier League Productions, former England striker Darren Bent was shocked by Rice’s actions but was not entirely convinced it warranted a sending off: ‘I like the bar the referees have set, so not everything’s a red card.
‘But this is how you know Arsenal are rattled because he kicks out but it’s almost on the thigh really, so it’s not really a blatant kick out.
Should Declan Rice have been sent off?
‘But we’ve not seen Declan Rice do that. He’s always calm, calculated, always does the right things.
‘But in that situation there, I think it was just a culmination of the way they played, getting beat by a better side. They were very much second-best in that midfield battle, chasing shadows.
‘Out of sync, they didn’t really have any control in the game. I think that one little moment almost summed up the whole of Arsenal’s performance.’
No red card means Rice avoids being suspended for Arsenal’s first game back after the international break, which is at home against Leeds United on October 10.
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Man City fans fume after Arsenal star escapes red card against Brighton | Football
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