Sports News | Arteta Slams ''inconsistent'' Refereeing After Rice is Sent off in 1-1 Draw with Brighton

London, Aug 31 (AP) Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was left fuming at what he called inconsistent refereeing after Declan Rice's sending-off led to Arsenal dropping its first points of the Premier League season in a 1-1 draw against Brighton on Saturday.

Arsenal was 1-0 up and looked in control when Rice was shown a second yellow card in the 49th minute, apparently for nudging the ball to the side as Joel Veltman tried to take a quick free kick near the sideline deep inside Brighton's half.

Also Read | Rubina Francis Wins Bronze in Women’s 10 M Air Pistol SH1 at Paris Paralympics 2024, Becomes First Indian Female Para-Athlete to Win Medal in Pistol Event at Paralympic Games.

Veltman kicked Rice from behind in the process and the home crowd was screaming for the Brighton player to get sanctioned, only for referee Chris Kavanagh to show Rice a red card instead.

“I was amazed. Amazed, amazed, amazed, because of how inconsistent decisions can be,” Arteta said, arguing that similar offences went unpunished earlier in the game.

Also Read | Paris Paralympics 2024 Indian Medal Winners List: Check Updated Names of Team India Para-Athletes Who Have Won Medals at XVII Summer Paralympic Games.

“By law, he (Kavanagh) can make the call. But by law then, he needs to make the next call, which is red card (for Veltman). So, we play 10 against 10.”

Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka also pointed to Pedro escaping without a booking for kicking the ball away much more forcefully in the first half to prevent Arsenal from taking a quick throw-in.

“We just want some consistency,” Saka said. “Joao Pedro booted the ball halfway across the pitch in the first half and got nothing for it and Dec got the slightest touch and was sent off.”

That decision turned the game completely and Joao Pedro equalized from a rebound in the 58th after David Raya had saved a shot from Yankuba Minteh.

Kai Havertz had put Arsenal ahead in the 38th with a lob over goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen and had a chance to restore Arsenal's lead when he ran through on goal again in the 74th, but his low shot was saved that time.

Saka also had a late chance for a winner after meeting a cross from Havertz, but his lunging effort didn't cause much of a problem for Verbruggen.

Brighton and Arsenal were two of four teams to win their opening two league games. The draw gives defending champion Manchester City a chance to go top of the standings if it beats West Ham away in Saturday's late kick-off.

Liverpool also has six points from two games and plays at Manchester United on Sunday. (AP)

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)