Declan Rice issues an apology to Arsenal teammates after his controversial sending-off in the Gunners’ 1-1 draw with Brighton

Declan Rice has apologised to his teammates for his controversial sending off during Arsenal‘s 1-1 draw with Brighton on Saturday.

Referee Chris Kavanagh was quick to show the Gunners’ midfielder a second yellow early in the second half for allegedly preventing Brighton’s Joel Veltman from taking a quick free-kick.

Rice had already been booked for a heavy challenge on Veltman in the first half of the game at the Emirates, with the second yellow culminating in the England international’s first sending-off of his career.

In a post-match interview, a remorseful Rice reflected on the red, first offering apologies to his teammates before accepting responsibility for his actions. 

He said: ‘I think from my behalf, that’s my first [career] sending off, so I just wanted to apologise obviously to my teammates, which I’ve done, and to the fans.

Rice admitted the sending-off was ‘a shock’ but accepted full responsibility for his actions

‘When you get sent off, it’s never nice, you get a sense of guilt over you, and I was lucky today that my teammates really helped me out and we didn’t lose the game. I’ll learn from it.’

Despite his contrition, Rice admitted he was surprised to be sent-off for a an infraction he perceived to be quite minor.

‘Yeah I was shocked, I think you could see in my face I was shocked,’ Rice said. ‘He’s obviously gone over, I’ve not sprinted over and smashed the ball away, I’ve touched the ball with the outside of my foot.

‘But look, this is the laws of the game. If you touch ball away, even a little bit, obviously it’s a red card after my challenge in the first half which I fully accept was a 50-50 that I didn’t win.

‘But the second half one, especially with it being in the corner flag, they can’t really progress anywhere from there. It was tough, it was harsh, but it’s one of those things.

‘I have to move on from it, I will be better for it and I can only praise the players for digging deep for me, and the manager for pushing everyone, and the fans as well who were unbelievable again this afternoon. That’s how I see it.’

The red card has earned Rice a one-match ban, which coincidentally is the first North London Derby of the season.

The Gunners make the short trip to the Tottenham Hotspur stadium on Sunday 15 September, shortly after the conclusion of the international break.

The red card represented the England international’s first sending-off in his career

It proved to be a particular low-note in the game that had a frustrating finish for Arsenal, who had led through Kai Havertz in the first half. 

But Brighton’s Joao Pedro – who Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta thought should’ve been penalised for a similar incident in the first half after the Brazilian kicked the ball away – equalised on the 58th minute.

The result means both teams retain their unbeaten start to the season, having both notched two wins from their first two matches.