Mikel Arteta has expressed his ongoing frustration over a controversial refereeing decision during Arsenal’s Premier League match against Brighton and Hove Albion last season, as the Gunners gear up for another challenging encounter with the Seagulls.
This week, Arsenal will host Brighton after having secured a 2-0 victory over them earlier in the Carabao Cup this season. However, their league meetings have historically posed tougher challenges, with Brighton previously causing Arsenal to drop points in both league fixtures last season.
Arteta’s ire is particularly focused on a specific match from the 2024/25 season, when Arsenal faced Brighton at home. After taking an initial lead through Kai Havertz in the first half, the Gunners were seemingly on their way to a comfortable victory. However, the match turned dramatically early in the second half due to an incident involving Declan Rice and Brighton defender Joel Veltman. Following a foul where the ball was dead, Rice attempted to nudge it forward, while Veltman went for the kick but inadvertently made contact with Rice instead. To the astonishment of players, staff, and supporters, referee Chris Kavanagh issued a red card to Rice, leaving Arsenal to battle the remainder of the game with ten men.
Reflecting on the incident, Arteta admitted to feeling the weight of that decision, saying, “I remember very well. I was very p—-d off. Very p—-d off in the manner that we played with 10 men. Hopefully, it is going to be very different next time.” He also noted that Arsenal’s struggles with red cards last season highlighted a broader issue with refereeing standards and the interpretation of rules.
Arteta pointed out that the club has faced significant challenges due to red cards in crucial matches, costing Arsenal valuable points in their pursuit of the league title. The Gunners finished the 2024/25 season trailing 10 points behind champions Liverpool—a gap that some supporters believe was exacerbated by contentious referee decisions. Across the season, Arsenal saw four pivotal dismissals in controversial situations, including those of Leandro Trossard and Myles Lewis-Skelly, which many argued were unjust.
As Arsenal gears up for their next match against Brighton, there is hope among players and fans that past refereeing woes will not repeat themselves, enabling the team to perform at its best with a full squad. Arteta’s comments highlight a commitment to addressing these challenges while fostering a resilient mindset as they pursue their goals in the upcoming fixtures.