Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice expressed his frustration after receiving his first career red card during the 1-1 draw against Brighton. Rice was sent off in the 49th minute after receiving a second yellow card for interfering with a Brighton free-kick, which he described as a harsh decision.
Reflecting on the incident, Rice said, “I was shocked, you could see it in my face. I’ve just touched the ball with the outside of my foot, not aggressively, but the laws of the game are clear.” He acknowledged his earlier challenge in the first half warranted a yellow but felt the second booking was unnecessary given the situation near the corner flag.
Rice apologized to his teammates and fans, expressing gratitude for the support he received during the game. He emphasized his commitment to learning from the experience and promised to come back stronger. Rice praised his teammates for digging deep and holding on for the draw, adding, “I’ll see where I can be better, and I’ll be back for sure. We’re striving for success and we’ll come back stronger.”
