Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice has expressed deep regret for his actions that led to a red card during the team’s home draw against Brighton, marking the first time this season that Arsenal has dropped points. The incident occurred after Rice, already on a yellow card for a first-half foul, was sent off by referee Chris Kavanagh for allegedly delaying a Brighton free-kick, which Joel Veltman was preparing to take deep in his half.
The red card has sparked widespread controversy among pundits and Arsenal supporters, many of whom believe the decision was overly harsh.
They argue that the ball was still in motion when Rice made minimal contact, and the situation did not warrant such a severe punishment.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed his frustration following the match, although he stopped short of outright disputing the referee’s decision. Arteta did, however, call for consistency, noting that Brighton’s Joao Pedro had not been penalized for a similar offense earlier in the match when he kicked the ball away.
After the game, Rice reflected on the incident, sharing his thoughts with the media. “I think you could see the shock on my face,” Rice admitted. “The referee made his decision… I didn’t rush in front of him or deliberately kick the ball away. I just lightly touched it with the outside of my foot.”
He continued by acknowledging the rules of the game: “According to the laws, even a slight touch can lead to a red card, especially considering my earlier challenge, which I accept was a 50-50 that didn’t go my way.”
Rice went on to discuss the circumstances of the second yellow card: “But the second one felt particularly harsh, especially given that it happened near the corner flag where Brighton couldn’t have advanced much from. It’s tough, but it’s one of those things. I have to move on, learn from this, and come back stronger. I want to thank my teammates for their effort, the manager for keeping us motivated, and the fans, who were incredible as always. That’s my perspective on what happened.”
Rice’s suspension from Arsenal’s next match, a crucial derby against local rivals Tottenham,
only adds to the team’s challenges, particularly with new signing Mikel Merino also sidelined due to injury.
This leaves a significant gap in Arsenal’s midfield as they prepare for this pivotal fixture after the international break.
Despite the setback, Rice remains optimistic and focused on the future. “We’ll keep pushing forward,”
he said. “I know this is tough, not just for me, but for everyone involved.
We have a challenging schedule ahead after the international break, but we’ll be ready.”
Reflecting on his career, Rice added, “This was my first red card ever, so I want to apologize
to my teammates, which I’ve already done, and to the fans. Getting sent off is never easy—
you feel a sense of guilt. But I’m grateful that my teammates stepped up, and we didn’t lose the game.
I’ll learn from this experience, and I truly appreciate the continued support from our fans.
It’s not in my nature to get red cards, so I’ll work on improving myself.”
Rice concluded on a positive note: “I’ll be back. I believe in this group of players, including myself,
and I know we’re all working towards the same goal—to achieve success.”