Rice was shown two yellow cards (Picture: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Arsenal star Declan Rice will miss the north London derby against Tottenham after being sent off against Brighton.
The Gunners midfielder was booked in the first-half of Saturday’s Premier League meeting after a strong challenge on Joel Veltman as he chased down a loose ball on the halfway line.
The England international was given his marching orders five minutes into the second period in a bizarre incident involving the same Brighton player.
Rice was penalised for a foul near the corner flag and attempted to delay the restart, knocking the ball away with the slightest of touches.
Veltman, in attempting to take the free kick quickly, swung a leg through the back of Rice just as he knocked the ball away. The Arsenal star was promptly shown a second yellow by referee Chris Kavanagh, sent off for the first time in his career.
Rice is set to serve a one-match suspension – ruling him out of the trip to Tottenham which immediately follows the international break on 15 September.
The former West Ham star was left bewildered by the decision with his teammates surrounding the match official, believing Veltman should have been the one sent off.
Rice was bewildered by the decision (Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
The Gunners had taken the lead in the first-half through a superb finish from Kai Havertz, who chipped the Brighton goalkeeper after excellent work from Bukayo Saka.
Less than 10 minutes after Rice’s red, Joao Pedro equalised for the visitors.
Rice’s absence for the north London derby will be complicated by the absence of new signing Mikel Merino.
The Spain international completed his move to the Emirates in the final week of the summer transfer window but suffered a fractured shoulder in his very first training session with the club.
Merino was pictured with his arm in a sling watching the action on Saturday afternoon.
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