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Dermot Gallagher says whether he thinks Declan Rice should’ve been sent off for Arsenal vs Brighton
Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Brighton on Saturday was clouded by controversy when Declan Rice was sent off by referee Chris Kavanagh.
The Gunners midfielder received a second yellow card just minutes into the second half after he was judged to have interfered with Brighton’s free-kick.
Declan Rice gently tapped the ball to interrupt Joel Veltman from taking it, with the Brighton player instead kicking Rice.
Rice was shown a second yellow card for time-wasting – a decision that baffled Gary Lineker.
Rice is now set to miss Arsenal‘s North London derby clash against Tottenham later this month as he serves his suspension.
Dermot Gallagher on Declan Rice red card
The decision to send Rice off has split opinion, with Ally McCoist suggesting that Veltman was lucky to stay on the pitch after the incident.
Former referee Dermot Gallagher has now shared his view on the decision and suggested that two things justify the red card.
Via , Gallagher said: “The players were told at the start of the season that if you delay the restart, you run the risk [of a booking], it was quite clear.
“You think someone else should’ve got a yellow card, but that doesn’t exonerate what he did.
“Two things don’t help him. He knows what he’s doing, and secondly the touchline – people say he didn’t knock it very far, but he knocks it off the field and so they definitely can’t restart play.
“Chris Kavanagh has got nowhere to go. The second yellow is mandatory.”
Declan Rice will be a big miss for Arsenal
As if dropping points to Brighton on the weekend wasn’t bad enough, Arsenal will now have to face Spurs without their midfield talisman.
READ MORE: Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher says Arsenal have a player who looks like a ‘young Virgil van Dijk’
New summer signing Mikel Merino is also injured, which could leave Arsenal with very few options to fill the void left by Rice against Tottenham.
Arsenal have already slipped up and given Manchester City a lead in the title race. Defeat against Spurs would inflict an even bigger blow.