ARTETA RILED BY 'INCONSISTENCY'

Brighton score to earn 1-1 draw after Arsenal midfielder Rice gets red-carded

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta blamed "inconsistent" refereeing after Declan Rice was controversially sent off in their 1-1 English Premier League home draw with Brighton & Hove Albion on Aug 31.

The Gunners were leading through Kai Havertz's first-half strike when Rice saw red after the interval at the Emirates Stadium.

In a bizarre incident, the midfielder earned a second booking for gently kicking the ball away and failing to retreat after fouling Brighton's Joel Veltman. It was his first red in 245 Premier League appearances.

He looked bewildered by the decision, while Arteta sought an explanation from the fourth official as Arsenal fans chanted "you're not fit to referee" at Chris Kavanagh.

The Premier League said Rice was sent off for "delaying the restart" of a free kick. The VAR (video assistant referee) was unable to intervene because it was a yellow card and not a straight red.

When asked about the incident after the match, Arteta said he was not given a proper explanation about the decision.

"None, like always," he said.