A DEC F CARDS
Rice is often Arsenal’s ace in the pack and he says he will learn from red mist... but could he suffer from midfield reshuffle?
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DECLAN RICE vowed to be better after being sent off for the first time in his career.
However, just where on the pitch he will be given the opportunity to improve may be open for debate.
This already looks like being a challenging season for Rice. The argument about whether the 25-yearold can play the holding midfield role at the highest level has started to turn against him.
His trademark bursts from deep were a big plus for counter-attacking managers like David Moyes and Gareth Southgate, but are less valued by his current club and country bosses.
If the inclusion of Angel Gomes in Lee Carsley’s first England squad is any indicator, then the interim manager prefers players with the ability to play on the half-turn in the No.6 role.
Mikel Arteta took the decision to stop playing Rice there at the turn of the year.
So far this season, the Gunners boss has continued to prefer Thomas Partey as his holding midfielder with Rice in a more advanced role on the left.
Rice struggled to impact the game against Brighton in areas of the pitch which look better suited to summer signing Mikel Merino.
His 49th-minute red card did little to help his case, or that of his team-mates – even if his second yellow for flicking the ball away as Joel Veltman tried to take a free-kick (above) felt harsh.
Rice said: “When you get sent off, it’s never nice, you get a sense of guilt over you, and I was lucky that my teammates really helped me out and we didn’t lose the game.
“I’ll learn from it, I really appreciate the fans’ support as always. It’s not in my nature to get red cards, so I’ll learn from it, I’ll see where I can be better, and I’ll be back for sure.
“I’m sure this group of players is only going to strive towards one thing and that’s to be successful.”
If Rice is to be successful in Arteta’s side, he needs to evolve as a passer and receiver of the ball while being more of a goal threat or he could find himself missing more than the North London Derby he is now suspended for.
The deadline day arrival of Raheem Sterling (right, below) is unlikely to have an impact on the starting roles of Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz who linked up for the latter to lob Brighton keeper Bart Verbruggen for Arsenal’s 38th-minute opener.
But the left-hand side could face a major overhaul, with Sterling capable of usurping Leandro Trossard who started against his former club and Gabriel Martinelli who both struggle to perform with any consistency.
Rice’s red card paved the way for Joao Pedro to level in the 58th minute after David Raya had blocked Yankuba
Minteh’s shot. Havertz and Saka went close to getting Rice out of jail but had late efforts well saved by Verbruggen, while Arsenal keeper Raya did well to keep out a Yasin Ayari effort.
Rice added: “A draw is not ideal because we want to win every game. But we had 10 men for 50 minutes so in the end I think it’s a really strong point.
“It’s only been three weeks since the start of the season, and we’re going in the right direction.”
ARSENAL (4-1-2-3): Raya 6; White 6, Saliba 6, Gabriel 6, Timber 6 (Zinchenko 80); Partey 6; Rice 5, Odegaard 6 (Martinelli 74); Saka 7, Havertz 7, Trossard 6
(Calafiori 59, 6)
BRIGHTON (4-2-3-1): Verbruggen 7; Veltman 6 (Estupinan 73), Van Hecke 7, Dunk 7, Hinshelwood 7; Milner 5 (Ayari 17, 7), Baleba 7; Minteh 6 (Rutter 73), Pedro 8, Mitoma 7 (Adingra 85); Welbeck 6 (Enciso 85)