‘Very very clever’: Mike Dean reacts after Declan Rice’s red card vs Brighton today

Arsenal dropped their first points of the Premier League season with a 1-1 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

The Gunners dominated the proceedings during the opening half and Kai Havertz opened the deadlock after a wonderful bit of play from Bukayo Saka.

Shortly after the break, the momentum shifted in Brighton’s favour. Declan Rice got his marching orders after a second booking for an unfortunate incident.

Joel Veltman tried to launch an early freekick. Rice made the slightest of contact with the ball, but it was enough for referee Chris Kavanagh to send him off.

The midfielder was already booked in the opening half and Kavanagh apologetically brandished a second yellow based on the rules for the current campaign.

Speaking after the game, Dean said that the referee had no choice but to send him off, but Veltman was very very clever in gaining an advantage for Brighton.

He told Sky Sports: “I mean, unfortunately for Declan he’s kicked the ball away as you said, but he hasn’t kicked it far, but they have been told before the season.

“Kick the ball away, delay any kind of restart, you will be cautioned. He’s already on a yellow card. He’s got no choice but to send him off.

“I think the defender has been very very clever because there he goes, the defender knows what is going to happen.”

Arsenal will feel hard done by the sending off, but Rice should have been aware of the situation.

The red card can’t be overturned, but the inconsistency from the referee ought to be questioned. Joao Pedro was let off for a similar incident in the first half.

The ball was also in motion and Veltman should have retaken the freekick.

Rice was wrong on his part but Veltman should have seen red too for an intentional kick. He went with full force on the Gunners ace which VAR blatantly ignored.

Arsenal could have still won the game with 10 men. Saka and Havertz missed clear-cut chances. The Gunners will feel they have dropped two points than gaining one.