There’s only one real place to start when it comes to this game. Declan Rice’s red card changed a game that Arsenal looked well on their way to winning.
There’s little doubting that it didn’t need to be given. Yes, by the letter of the law Rice stopped a quick free kick being taken and should be booked. The England international will need to take some responsibility for that, and has apologised to his teammates. At the same time though, no one would have been complaining if Chris Kavanaugh hadn’t given it.
To make matters worse, he did not book Joao Pedro in the first half when the Brighton forward committed a far more egregious act of time wasting to stop Arsenal taking a quick throw in. It was this that Arteta was most upset about.
