Declan Rice received one of the most unusual red cards in recent memory on Saturday afternoon, as Arsenal faced Brighton at the Emirates.
The visitors arrived as one of the league's form teams, sitting on two wins from two after last week's last-gasp winner against Manchester United.
Early on, Arsenal set the tempo, though Brighton grew in influence as the first half progressed. Ultimately, though, the hosts would go in at the break 1-0 up thanks to a neat opener from Kai Havertz.
Things would change entirely in the second half, with Declan Rice's bizarre second yellow turning the game on its head.
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Arsenal v Brighton: Declan Rice receives bizarre red card
Declan Rice had been booked in the first half for a mistimed challenge just before the break. Despite being on a tightrope, Rice would be involved in a strange incident in the second half which earned him a second yellow.
Brighton won a free kick in the corner near their goal, with Joel Veltman lining up to take it. As Veltman teed up a quick free-kick, Rice kicked the ball away with a light flick.
His intervention took the ball out of Veltman's path, with the Seagulls star following through and leathering Rice with a powerful kick (presumably initially intended for the ball).
Declan Rice sent off for getting volleyed in the ankle by Joël Veltman.
Fair enough. #ARSBHA pic.twitter.com/2jGiwq97uc— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) August 31, 2024
There was a sense that both parties were somewhat to blame for the incident, with Rice undeniably kicking the ball away, while Veltman would surely have been aware of the 25-year-old's presence and following through rather powerfully.
After a delay as Rice lay on the pitch arguing with Brighton players, the England international found his feet - and was instantly shown a second yellow card by referee Chris Kavanagh for kicking the ball away.
Rice was incredulous, with the scene vaguely hilarious to neutral viewers, who saw a player kicked in the leg and earn himself a red card for it. However, by the letter of the law, Kavanagh was correct in sending the Arsenal star off.
Brighton would equalise moments later through Joao Pedro and ultimately held on for a draw to continue their impressive start to the season.
The incident brought the first red card of Declan Rice's career and, furthermore, brought an end to Arsenal's 100% start to the season. Rice will now be suspended for Arsenal's next game - a trip across North London for a derby against Tottenham.
Declan Rice will next be in action when he returns to the Aviva Stadium with England next Saturday for the Nations League opener against Ireland.
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