August 31st 2024.
The recent match between Arsenal and Brighton caused quite a stir among Arsenal fans, with their former rival Rio Ferdinand adding fuel to the fire. After the game ended in a draw, Ferdinand took the opportunity to tease the fuming Arsenal fans by sharing a video of Mikel Arteta, the team's manager, arguing with the referee during the game.
Some context for the match: Arsenal had scored a goal in the first half, thanks to a brilliant play by Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz. However, things took a turn when Declan Rice was given a red card just four minutes into the second half. He had already received a yellow card in the first half, and this time he was shown the red for delaying the game after committing a foul.
Arteta and Saka were both quick to point out the inconsistencies in the referee's decisions. They mentioned a similar incident involving Brighton's Joao Pedro, who had also kicked the ball out of bounds in the first half but had not received any punishment for it. Arteta was seen animatedly pleading with the referee during this incident, but to no avail.
Amidst all the post-match frustration, Ferdinand cheekily commented on the video, asking why Arteta was outside his technical area. This only added to the anger of the Arsenal fans, who accused Ferdinand of being biased towards their rival team, Manchester United. One fan even went as far as to question his integrity and suggest that he should have some shame.
To make things clear, Ferdinand later confirmed that he was simply poking fun at the situation and not showing any favoritism towards Manchester United. Meanwhile, Arteta was still reeling from the red card decision, calling it "amazing" and "inconsistent."
He also mentioned that there were two similar incidents in the first half, but no action was taken. However, in this non-critical situation, Declan Rice was sent off, which was a game-changing decision. Saka also brought up the earlier incident with Pedro, highlighting the lack of consistency in the referee's decisions.
It's clear that this match has caused quite a controversy, not just among fans but also among players and managers. Arsenal fans are understandably frustrated with the outcome, and Ferdinand's teasing comment only added salt to the wound. It remains to be seen how this situation will be resolved and if there will be any consequences for the referee's inconsistent decisions.
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