Declan Rice’s first Premier League red card proved to be the turning point as Arsenal settled for a hard-earned point against Brighton.
Here’s what the managers, players, pundits and stattos made of an eventful afternoon at Emirates Stadium.
Mikel Arteta on his side’s performance after Declan Rice’s red card…
We were on top of the match, we started the second half really well and, in that moment, the referee makes a decision that obviously changes the course of the game for us. And then still like this, the team reacted amazingly, the crowd reacted amazingly, and we should have won the game.
Source: Arsenal.com
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Fabian Hürzeler on Brighton’s performance…
The goal from Arsenal happened out of nowhere. We have to be honest; it was bad defending from our side. It was just a long ball. We didn’t win the second ball, so that was bad. And then the second half changed because of the red card. We dominated the game completely from that moment. We created chances. We made one-v-ones and we had chances for the second goal, but on the other side we also have to be honest that that we could concede a second goal to Arsenal because we were not consistent in our counter-pressing and not consistent enough in the rest defence. So in the end it feels a little bit like a disappointment because of course we wanted to win the game. I think we should be satisfied with the point because it’s a fair result.
Source: brightonandhovealbion.com
Saka on a battling point…
Of course it’s something I can be proud of, but it’s a bit hard to be happy with this especially when we don’t get the win. I thought we had the game in our hands,” he added, “then a big decision turned the game completely and we had to fight and dig until the end. We got a point in the end but it’s still a bit disappointing at the same time.
Source: Arsenal.com
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Arteta on Declan Rice’s red card…
I was amazed. Amazed, amazed, amazed because of how inconsistent decisions can be. In the first half, there were two incidents and nothing happened. Then, in a non-critical area, the ball hits Declan, he turns around, doesn’t see the player coming and touches the ball. By law, he can make that call, but by law then he needs to make the next call which is a red card. So we play 10 against 11. This amazed me, at this level.
Source: Arsenal.com
Arteta on Arsenal’s five yellows and a red card and Brighton’s one yellow…
I was amazed with the inconsistency because, as you said, the Brighton players kicked the ball away and no yellow card. And a player on a yellow card in an area that is not critical where the ball is bouncing against his heel. He [the referee] makes a call, okay, but if you make that call [by the letter of the] law, then you have to send their man [Veltman] off because it’s a red card.
Source: Viaplay Football
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Saka on having to regroup after the red card…
Yeah, it’s not easy because Brighton are a good team, even with 11 men against them it’s tough, with 10 it’s tougher, but we gave it our all. I don’t like to put the whole game on the referee but, but we just want some consistency, you know? In the first half Joao Pedro kicked it out, far away, and didn’t get anything for it and Dec has done the littlest touch and he’s got a second yellow for it. It’s a bit harsh for me but it is what it is. It’s a long season, we know that, we’ve been ahead and lost it, it’s a long season, I’m not too worried.
Source: TNT Sports
Arteta on whether Timber has an injury…
No, he was I think cramping. He got a kick in the first half and was cramping so we had to take him off.
Source: Post-game press conference
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Arteta on whether Odegaard is injured…
He’s fine. He’s fine.
Source: Viaplay Football
Martin Keown on Declan Rice’s red card…
I know Declan knocks the ball away but why is Veltman knocking the ball into Rice’s path and where’s he supposed to go by the way? It’s almost like a free punt, I’ll do somebody at the same time, so the referee, I know the principle of this new law, they want to move people away from the ball, but there’s also a responsibility to keep both sets of 11 players on the pitch. I don’t really feel that that is a sending off offence.
Source: TNT Sports
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Peter Crouch on Rice’s red…
I don’t think there’s anyone in football that will tell you that he (Veltman) has genuinely tried to play a pass there. He’s tried to put the ball there [in Rice’s path] in the hope that he kicks it away and then he’s bringing it to the referee’s attention that he has kicked the ball away. And then he’s been sent off.
Source: TNT Sports
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Ally McCoist on the Rice incident…
I don’t know what Declan Rice is meant to do. It looked like it was a kick-out at him! I think Joel Veltman is lucky to stay on the pitch with his kick out.
Source: TNT Sports
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Ian Wright on the flow of the game…
After the first half you could see that Arsenal were in control. In the second half, after the sending off, Brighton made some very good substitutions because they’ve got the players to do it. They went for the game.
Source: premierleague.com
Bukayo Saka on Sterling joining Arsenal…
Great signing for us, I am really happy to have him here. I am sure he will do amazing for us.
Source: BBC Match of the Day
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Arteta on getting Raheem Sterling up to speed…
Yes, we’ll have to see and speak to him on what he’s been doing and how he’s feeling about it. We have to try to find quick wins to get him up to speed as quick as possible and him understanding what we are looking for from him and the dynamics of the team. We will use this time to do that and as soon as possible, get him involved.
Source: Post-game press conference
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