Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed his frustration over the 'inconsistent' refereeing decisions after Declan Rice was sent off during their 1-1 draw with Brighton. Rice received a second yellow card for obstructing a quick free-kick, a decision that Arteta and many fans deemed unfair given similar actions by Brighton's João Pedro went unpunished. This red card altered the momentum of the game, allowing Brighton's João Pedro to equalize. Arteta argued that if Rice's action warranted a red card, then Pedro should have been booked for a similar offense earlier. The red card means Rice will miss Arsenal's upcoming North London derby against Tottenham. Brighton's manager, Fabian Hürzeler, defended the decision, stating that the situations were not comparable.