Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler and Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta have offered different opinions on Declan Rice’s red card in the 1-1 Premier League draw on Saturday.
The Gunners midfielder was dismissed in the second half after kicking the ball away as Brighton went to take a quick free-kick.
Fans inside the stadium were furious as Seagulls forward Joao Pedro did a similar action in the first half but escaped punishment.
But Brighton’s Hurzeler believes it is in the laws to be cautioned for the action.
Speaking to BBC MOTD, he said: “In the end you are one man plus so you always want to win the game. We had chances on our side but Arsenal also had two big chances.
“First of all he shoots the ball away so it is a clear yellow card, it changes the momentum of the game.
“I WAS AMAZED, AMAZED, AMAZED!” 😡
Mikel Arteta makes his feelings clear after Declan Rice’s controversial red card 😤
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— Hayters TV (@HaytersTV) August 31, 2024
“We started to control the game and then the goal happens out of nowhere.
“We didn’t defend it well, the red card changed the game for sure. We wanted to win, we didn’t do it so we have to be satisfied with the draw.
“There’s still room for a lot of improvements. We try and go step-by-step.”
Arteta disagreed with his opponent, and says he was amazed with what happened in North London.
He added: “I was amazed. In the first half when the opponents did that they didn’t get any booking. He makes the call by law in a non critical area of the pitch when the ball hit the heel when turning around, to make that decision.
“By law he can do it but be consistent. If that is the case they should have a man sent off and then it is 10 v 10.
“Amazing, the team and the reaction of the crowd [after going a man down]. We created two big chances one v one and we should have won the game.”
