Former Tottenham star has surprise verdict over Declan Rice incident in Arsenal draw vs Brighton

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In the wake of Arsenal’s 1-1 draw against Brighton on Saturday, a debate has erupted concerning the sending off of Declan Rice. 

Arsenal will feel as though they were harshly treated at the Emirates Stadium, as their winning start to the new Premier League season was halted by the Seagulls.

The game changed early in the second half, with Mikel Arteta’s side 1-0 up, when Chris Kavanagh showed Declan Rice a second yellow card for prodding the ball out of play after Brighton had been awarded a free kick. 

In attempting to take the free kick quickly, despite the ball still being in motion, Joel Veltman kicked out at Rice. Despite this, it was still the Arsenal man who was punished. 

After the former West Ham United man was dismissed, Brighton came into the game and soon found an equaliser.

Gary Lineker believes Kavanagh was wrong to send off Rice, and the Arsenal fans were furious about the decision. 

The North London faithful have now received support from an unlikely source.

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Former Spurs star Jamie O’Hara has say on Declan Rice incident 

Speaking on Sky Sports News, former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Jamie O’Hara made his position on the matter clear.

He said: “I think it’s harsh. I think it’s really harsh. I don’t think it’s a sending off, I have to say, I don’t. I think the ball is moving, Veltman knows exactly what he’s doing, you know? 

“He’s literally tapped it, Declan Rice. I don’t even know if he knows Veltman is really there. I just think it’s a harsh, harsh decision… The common sense in football has just completely gone out of the game.”

O’Hara welcomes Arsenal pain

Later, O’Hara took to X to expound upon his stance.

He wrote: “The more I see this the more my opinion get stronger it’s not a yellow card, the balls still moving for one so the free kick can’t even be played, plus veltman knows exactly what he’s trying to do, I’m all for Arsenal pain but if this was spurs I’d be absolutely fuming.”

Given O’Hara’s Tottenham Hotspur connections, it is unsurprising that he is welcoming to the notion of the Gunners suffering misfortune. The fact that he still so vociferously holds the opinion that Rice was wrongly dismissed is perhaps surprising then, and speaks volumes. 

However, he will be pleased by the fact that Rice will now be suspended for the North London derby, which will be Arsenal’s next game after the international break.