Fans fume ‘VAR must’ve had a tea break’ as Arsenal star Declan Rice avoids red card for hacking down Brighton ace

PREMIER LEAGUE fans were left seething after Arsenal star Declan Rice escaped a “straight” red card following a controversial off-the-ball challenge with Brighton ace Malick Yalcouye. The Gunners suffered their first defeat across all competitions at the Amex Stadium as the Seragulls picked up a 3-0 victory with goals by Pascal Gross, Babis Kostoulas and Chema Andres. Arsenal star Declan Rice hacked Brighton ace Malick Yalcouye down during stoppage time Credit: USA Rice escaped a red card as referee Darren England showed him a yellow Credit: Reuters And things could have gotten worse for the North Londoners during stoppage time after Yalcouye, 20, tried to dispossess Rice, 27, down the visitors’ half. The England international managed to offload the ball under pressure but it appeared like the Brighton midfielder nudged him soon after. Sign up for the Arsenal newsletter Thank you! And replays suggest the Arsenal star hit back with a cheeky kick that floored the Ivory Coast international in the seventh minute of added time. Referee Darren England stopped play and showed Rice a yellow card for his reaction. However, the star midfielder was lucky as he could have been sent off – something that many fans furiously argued on social media. One football enthusiast tweeted: “VAR must’ve been on a tea break…” Another commented: “I don’t get how thats not violent conduct.” A third wrote: “That’s a red at every level!” Most read in Football CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Premier League fans were left seething after Rice wasn’t sent off Credit: Reuters This fan said: “Go give him the card, mate.” That one added: “Straight red card.” And a comment read: “F****** hell, thats atrocious.” This comes almost two weeks after a similar incident between Rice and Morgan Rogers during Arsenal’s 2-1 win over rivals Chelsea at the Emirates. The ex-West Ham star tripped Rogers, who thought his England team-mate did it on purpose to kill the Blues’ attack. Tempers flared as the two stars had a heated confrontation until cooler heads prevailed. Rogers was booked but Rice went unpunished after that controversial incident. Comment now