Declan Rice’s red card for Arsenal during their draw against Brighton has been a major talking point this weekend.

Mikel Arteta is fully aware that his team simply can’t drop many points given what they are up against regarding Manchester City.

But Arsenal’s 1-1 draw against Brighton already feels like a body blow for the team, especially given that Pep Guardiola’s side and Liverpool have made a 100% start to the new Premier League season.

However, Erling Haaland slammed what he was hearing about Arsenal and he defended the London club amid their frustration from the Brighton game.

Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher shared their thoughts on Rice’s red card because it has divided opinion.

The England midfielder was shown a second yellow card in the second half for kicking the ball away and not allowing Brighton to take a quick free kick.

But the gripe from Arsenal fans is that Joao Pedro booted the ball away in the first half, and despite protests, nothing was given and he wasn’t carded.

Neville admitted that the call to send Rice off was ‘soft’ and he would have ‘hated’ to have got sent off for such an action.

The Manchester United legend explained that Rice kicking the ball away was ‘a little tap’, even though the letter of the law states the official was right to make the call.

Jamie Carragher thinks Rice can have no arguments, but he did think Rice and Joel Veltman were trying to get each sent off at that moment, as he told Sky Sports.

Should Declan Rice have been sent off against Brighton?

“You can’t argue when you look at the letter of the law,” said Carragher. “I would have liked to have seen the referee use a bit of game management. Get the two of them together really quickly. Get the game going and I don’t think anyone would have made too big a deal about the fact that neither of them had been booked.

“I think Declan Rice went down a little bit too easily. The player from Brighton knew there wasn’t really a pass on. Almost trying to get each other booked. I don’t think they can argue, but I would have liked to have seen a bit of better game management from the referee.”

Neville added: “I thought it was soft. I used to get frustrated by delaying the game – if a player kicks it away in anger against a referee’s decision, then I think it should be a booking. If a player really prolongs or there is a delay and you can see them booting it away. I think it’s so quick and it’s just a reaction. It’s a little tap. I don’t know. I know you can’t differentiate sometimes between it and I know it’s the law. It did feel soft, for me. That sending off. The reality of it is, it is what it is. We are all going to get bad decisions in a season, but Arsenal, I think, their fans are going to be aggrieved. They are aggrieved. The manager would be. I would hate to get sent off for that.”

Declan Rice suspended for Tottenham game

After the international break, it’s the small matter of the north London derby, with Arsenal making the short trip to Tottenham.

Arsenal will be without Rice against Spurs, with Jorginho probably expected to come in for the Englishman, even though they aren’t like-for-like players.

Tottenham were beaten at Newcastle on Sunday at St James’ Park, so they aren’t exactly going into the game full of confidence.

But they should take it as a plus that Rice won’t be available, with both teams just unable to drop points or lose this fixture.

Ian Wright wasn’t best pleased after Arsenal dropped points at home to Brighton on Saturday.

From Wright’s perspective, even though Arsenal didn’t win, he sees it as a point gained because Mikel Arteta’s side were down to ten men.

Declan Rice was sent off early in the second half for a second bookable offence for kicking the ball away.

That call infuriated the Arsenal supporters, with Arteta making his feelings clear about Rice’s red card and the inconsistency around it all.

Joao Pedro scored Brighton’s equalising goal and he too kicked the ball away in the first half, but nothing was given, so you can understand their frustration.

But that wasn’t the only thing that frustrated Wright, it’s how certain players reacted when such a key figure like Rice had to leave the pitch.

Brighton are a naturally attacking side, they like to keep possession, they have made a 100% start to the new season, so their tails are up and they were going to put pressure on the title chasers.

But that doesn’t stop you from doing the basics right and one man, in particular, was singled out by the Arsenal legend.

For Brighton’s goal, Wright noticed Thomas Partey ‘jogging’ and not picking up the run of Pedro, who in the end, would score from inside the box following a rebound.

Thomas Partey slammed after Arsenal draw against Brighton

“When you look at that and the play from there, you look at Thomas Partey,” said Wright. “He (Joao Pedro) has literally run past him.

“Thomas Partey also has to recognise, in that instance, he has to go all the way with Pedro. At least make a challenge, when Pedro just blasts past him and he is kind of jogging back.

“Those are the things, when you look back at that, you say ‘that could have been avoided’. Maybe you could have put more pressure on Lewis Dunk. He has the capability. Put more pressure on that. Cut that angle off him and then I think Partey has to cover Pedro.”

Arsenal against Tottenham

After the international break, it’s the small matter of the north London derby at Tottenham’s stadium and this is going to be huge for both teams.

Tottenham lost to Newcastle on Sunday and they go into that game with extra pressure on their shoulders.

But Rice will be suspended for the Tottenham game, so that should be a boost for Ange Postecoglou’s side.

Although, Arsenal could hand a debut to Raheem Sterling against Spurs, as more drama awaits in the next edition of the north London derby.

Danny Murphy makes bold prediction for Arsenal summer signing after ‘incredible’ deal

Arsenal found themselves busy over the summer transfer window as Mikel Arteta gears up for another Premier League title challenge.

The Gunners ended up adding five new additions to Arteta’s squad, including two late deals on deadline day.

Arsenal made a late loan move for Raheem Sterling, while goalkeeper Neto also joined the club on loan in the final hours of the window.

They join David Raya Riccardo Calafiori and Mikel Merino as new arrivals at The Emirates, with the trio all signing permanent deals to join Arsenal.

Raheem Sterling and Neto both joined too late on deadline day to be registered for Arsenal’s clash against Brighton, where the Gunners dropped their first points of the season in a 1-1 draw.

Danny Murphy makes bold Raheem Sterling prediction

Sterling will be available for selection when Arsenal face Tottenham in a blockbuster North London derby.

However, he may find it difficult to get into Arteta’s squad with Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard all fighting for positions out wide.

Danny Murphy is confident, though, that Sterling will not only add to Arsenal’s depth but that he will be a regular starter this season.

Via the Daily Mail, Murphy wrote: “Arsenal signing Raheem Sterling is an incredible piece of business. He’s a winner, a four-time league champion. He isn’t going to be phased by the size of the club and the level of expectancy from the fan base.

“The more players you have in the dressing room that have won trophies, the more it rubs off on those around you. It’s about showing a mentality and calmness in decisive moments and Raheem was a huge part of that at Manchester City.

“So, too, was Mikel Arteta. Raheem knows the high standards that Arteta sets. Likewise, Arteta knows how good a professional Raheem is and what a great role model he is.

“It’s not just Raheem’s influence in the dressing room but impact on the pitch. He’s versatile and can play across the front line, on both wings, as a striker and as a false nine.

“The one area where Arteta has found it difficult at times is strength in depth on the right wing. He had Bukayo Saka and no one else he trusted.

“Raheem will play more games than people think because if he gets anywhere near his best he’ll be starting.”

Raheem Sterling’s role at Arsenal this season

Sterling will have to be patient as he works his way into Arteta’s first-team plans, but there will be plenty of opportunities for him to cement a starting spot.

If the Gunners plan on competing on all fronts this season then they will need to utilise their depth and if Sterling hits the ground running he could easily find himself starting in both the Premier League and Champions League.

Arteta is familiar with Sterling having worked with him during his time at Manchester City, and the Spaniard could help him rediscover his superb form from his days at the Etihad Stadium.

Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher react to Declan Rice’s red card for Arsenal